![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UU36EDW367RKTUI7CORVFKPSV4.jpg?smart=true&auth=5d88f8aa154803773487392b9a75ad2ec0cb9a89f0d5a82640491f04c16e25da&width=400&height=225)
A young boy works with adult labourers at the Sodorghat dockyard, found along the Buriganga River in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZHQ3NGYZM4LPT7U52ILNG2B75U.jpg?smart=true&auth=d40c7be284695b53ccd559bbd8328dc9212369e8e975825b8bf26a869dbbf153&width=400&height=225)
KM Asad's winning entry to the Pink Lady Food Photo Awards 2020. All photos by KM Asad
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YQZU5GY3S56EGI6IM5PMCL5EQI.jpg?smart=true&auth=8935c89ca96c597f013833ab9c70be142572912b6dfb096a4af169fc15427485&width=400&height=225)
Asad's latest project 'Can Covid-19 Stop the Wheel?' is a portrait series of Bangladeshi rickshaw drivers and the impact of the pandemic on their incomes.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DBEYYIFHGN2ENAHMPMTNZ62ZDQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=53393a6feff849e254597e26ab5af03f6379e8df7e567230af290abf4c7b5bb9&width=400&height=225)
Since 2012, Asad has been documenting the Rohingya refugee crisis in Bangladesh.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IXDCOJQVGZQCZFXGOIMSEUV43M.jpg?smart=true&auth=7dc8cdeaefda9baca166fe1ccf18bd4de3ad37681782db97df23b41f8307b770&width=400&height=225)
The photographer launched the project (@RohingyaExodus) to focus on the ongoing issue of the refugee crisis in Bangladesh. In this photo taken in November 2017, children in the Unchiprang Rohingya refugee camp in Chittagong, Bangladesh wait to hear updates about the disputed repatriation program that could potentially send them back to Myanmar.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/G52Y366UEVQS74OWWSXHIFOLQY.jpg?smart=true&auth=bcecc830036986a5d5e5e744e17b472d91054a854fa35e77b99d90df03cdf2da&width=400&height=225)
In February 2019, a deadly fire broke out in Chowk Bazaar in Old Dhaka, killing at least 69 people. A woman holds a picture of one of the potential victims in the Dhaka Medical Hospital morgue to identify the body of a relative.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SZOEKZVFUVVTPZTQWCON2UQ3AM.jpg?smart=true&auth=df77898a8738fc5df4af291fe89bb3e04269dd3b05be147a074ed7e5808dec2a&width=400&height=225)
Situated along the Brahmaputra River Delta, Bangladesh is prone to flooding. In this photo taken in 2017, people are transporting fresh water in a banana boat during flooding in the Kajla area at Bogra. For many, the floods have caused them to leave their homes and take shelter else where. Many have not been able to return.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Z6FAA6ZF5Y5XZNDSNPE3YC6NHM.jpg?smart=true&auth=3fc82722b63a5a358fbad7ce7a75369b8c16f8f26813eedc39a7bda688a42698&width=400&height=225)
Rescue workers at the site of Dhaka's Rana Plaza, a garment factory which collapsed in April 2013. Reports state that more than 1,130 people died and around 2,500 were rescued. It is considered the deadliest garment factory disaster in history.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HZXYKXMJN64YMTU5TRE3WFEI4Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=8a21113fa8d593fe0428f370cf21226571eab5c00d82aa65a3b5d5006fd73015&width=400&height=225)
A woman on the site of Rana Plaza. The commercial building also housed shops and banks that had closed after discovering cracks in the structure. Garment workers, however, were still ordered to come into work when the building collapsed.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TWB4NKVIADAP5TVQUAWSC5JTBM.jpg?smart=true&auth=18cd123be425def2eec13129b1cd8f8b62cb43e7c05b761045d75bac7284017e&width=400&height=225)
A Hindu devotee is pierced with the iron sticks to celebrate the rituals of the Gajon festival in India. The practice is believed to carry prosperity and eliminates sufferings from the previous year.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UU36EDW367RKTUI7CORVFKPSV4.jpg?smart=true&auth=5d88f8aa154803773487392b9a75ad2ec0cb9a89f0d5a82640491f04c16e25da&width=400&height=225)
A young boy works with adult labourers at the Sodorghat dockyard, found along the Buriganga River in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZHQ3NGYZM4LPT7U52ILNG2B75U.jpg?smart=true&auth=d40c7be284695b53ccd559bbd8328dc9212369e8e975825b8bf26a869dbbf153&width=400&height=225)
KM Asad's winning entry to the Pink Lady Food Photo Awards 2020. All photos by KM Asad
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YQZU5GY3S56EGI6IM5PMCL5EQI.jpg?smart=true&auth=8935c89ca96c597f013833ab9c70be142572912b6dfb096a4af169fc15427485&width=400&height=225)
Asad's latest project 'Can Covid-19 Stop the Wheel?' is a portrait series of Bangladeshi rickshaw drivers and the impact of the pandemic on their incomes.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DBEYYIFHGN2ENAHMPMTNZ62ZDQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=53393a6feff849e254597e26ab5af03f6379e8df7e567230af290abf4c7b5bb9&width=400&height=225)
Since 2012, Asad has been documenting the Rohingya refugee crisis in Bangladesh.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IXDCOJQVGZQCZFXGOIMSEUV43M.jpg?smart=true&auth=7dc8cdeaefda9baca166fe1ccf18bd4de3ad37681782db97df23b41f8307b770&width=400&height=225)
The photographer launched the project (@RohingyaExodus) to focus on the ongoing issue of the refugee crisis in Bangladesh. In this photo taken in November 2017, children in the Unchiprang Rohingya refugee camp in Chittagong, Bangladesh wait to hear updates about the disputed repatriation program that could potentially send them back to Myanmar.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/G52Y366UEVQS74OWWSXHIFOLQY.jpg?smart=true&auth=bcecc830036986a5d5e5e744e17b472d91054a854fa35e77b99d90df03cdf2da&width=400&height=225)
In February 2019, a deadly fire broke out in Chowk Bazaar in Old Dhaka, killing at least 69 people. A woman holds a picture of one of the potential victims in the Dhaka Medical Hospital morgue to identify the body of a relative.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SZOEKZVFUVVTPZTQWCON2UQ3AM.jpg?smart=true&auth=df77898a8738fc5df4af291fe89bb3e04269dd3b05be147a074ed7e5808dec2a&width=400&height=225)
Situated along the Brahmaputra River Delta, Bangladesh is prone to flooding. In this photo taken in 2017, people are transporting fresh water in a banana boat during flooding in the Kajla area at Bogra. For many, the floods have caused them to leave their homes and take shelter else where. Many have not been able to return.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Z6FAA6ZF5Y5XZNDSNPE3YC6NHM.jpg?smart=true&auth=3fc82722b63a5a358fbad7ce7a75369b8c16f8f26813eedc39a7bda688a42698&width=400&height=225)
Rescue workers at the site of Dhaka's Rana Plaza, a garment factory which collapsed in April 2013. Reports state that more than 1,130 people died and around 2,500 were rescued. It is considered the deadliest garment factory disaster in history.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HZXYKXMJN64YMTU5TRE3WFEI4Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=8a21113fa8d593fe0428f370cf21226571eab5c00d82aa65a3b5d5006fd73015&width=400&height=225)
A woman on the site of Rana Plaza. The commercial building also housed shops and banks that had closed after discovering cracks in the structure. Garment workers, however, were still ordered to come into work when the building collapsed.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TWB4NKVIADAP5TVQUAWSC5JTBM.jpg?smart=true&auth=18cd123be425def2eec13129b1cd8f8b62cb43e7c05b761045d75bac7284017e&width=400&height=225)
A Hindu devotee is pierced with the iron sticks to celebrate the rituals of the Gajon festival in India. The practice is believed to carry prosperity and eliminates sufferings from the previous year.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UU36EDW367RKTUI7CORVFKPSV4.jpg?smart=true&auth=5d88f8aa154803773487392b9a75ad2ec0cb9a89f0d5a82640491f04c16e25da&width=400&height=225)
A young boy works with adult labourers at the Sodorghat dockyard, found along the Buriganga River in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Bangladeshi photographer wins award for Rohingya refugees image
KM Asad won the top prize of the Pink Lady Food Photo Awards 2020, but his archive of images speaks to broader issues in his native Bangladesh
![Alexandra Chaves](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2Fbdf74649-e581-430d-bebb-05a009adb530.png?smart=true&auth=1aaef0ec554b632723f2f63cf60bfb8380f8e1ec18ca35283e642f53cc0bac8e&width=70&height=70)
Alexandra Chaves
04 May, 2020
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