World Press Photo 2024 Exhibition Opens at Drik Gallery, Showcasing Global Visual Storytelling

The highly anticipated World Press Photo 2024 exhibition, organized by Drik Picture Library in collaboration with the World Press Photo Foundation, has opened at Drik Gallery in Dhaka. This 16-day exhibition brings together a collection of the year’s top photojournalism and documentary photography, chosen by an independent jury from the foundation’s annual competition.

Dignitaries attending the opening ceremony on Friday evening included Irma van Dueren, Ambassador of the Netherlands to Bangladesh; Irene Khan, UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression; and Shahidul Alam, Drik’s Managing Director and former World Press Photo jury chair. ASM Rezaur Rahman, regional coordinator for Asia for the 2024 contest, moderated the event.

Reflecting on Drik’s partnership with the World Press Photo Foundation, Shahidul Alam noted, “When we first hosted the WPP exhibition at Drik in 1993, a key condition was that it must be uncensored, showcasing every photo unedited. This exhibition is a celebration of press freedom in Bangladesh and a step towards a democratic vision for the nation.”

Ambassador van Dueren lauded the exhibition’s impact, emphasizing its importance for journalists with limited access to advanced technology and commending the power of visual storytelling to convey global issues.

Drik, as the regional partner for Asia, has previously hosted the 2022 World Press Photo Exhibition and facilitated the judging process for Asian entries in the 2023 and 2024 contests. This year’s contest, now in its 67th edition, featured entries from 3,851 photographers representing 130 countries, with more than 61,000 submissions covering critical issues from climate change and conflict to migration and human rights.

The Dhaka exhibition will remain open to the public until November 14, 2024, with viewing hours from 3 pm to 8 pm daily. Having premiered in Amsterdam in April, the World Press Photo 2024 exhibition is now touring over 60 locations globally.