Sakibul Hasan
An elderly woman, accompanied by her grandchild, heads towards a water source. To collect this essential resource, they must travel a long distance. The photograph captures more than an ordinary scene of water collection; it tells a deeper story of climate change, salinity, the scarcity of safe drinking water and the daily struggles of coastal communities. That reality of Bangladesh has now found a place on the international stage.
Bangladeshi documentary photographer and independent photojournalist Muhammad Amdad Hossain has won second prize in the photography competition at the Asia Visionary Conference 2026, held in Bhutan. His photograph, titled Where Fresh Water Fades, secured second place in the competition.
He captured the photograph on May 15, 2023, near the Kholpetua River in Shyamnagar, Satkhira. It shows an elderly woman collecting water with her grandchild. Although seemingly an ordinary scene, the photograph reflects a deep-rooted crisis that has affected coastal communities for years.
Following Cyclone Aila in 2009, saline water entered freshwater sources across large parts of the southwestern coastal region, triggering an acute shortage of safe drinking water. Although some changes have taken place over the years, the crisis remains far from over. Many families still have to travel long distances to collect drinking water. During the monsoon, many try to meet their needs by storing rainwater. During the rest of the year, they depend on pond water, which must be boiled before consumption.
The image of the elderly woman and her grandchild captured through Hossain's lens is therefore more than a moment of two people collecting water. It is a reflection of a community transformed by the impacts of climate change. The photograph brings into focus water insecurity, environmental justice and the struggles of marginalised people.
Bangladesh's Story at an International Conference in Bhutan
The three-day Asia Visionary Conference 2026 was held in Paro, Bhutan, from November 6 to 8. Organised under the theme Enlightened Prosperity, the conference was attended by Bhutan's King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. Held under his patronage, the event featured discussions on the environment, technology, human progress and the future of Asia. Policymakers, researchers, entrepreneurs and creative professionals from different countries took part. The first two days of the conference were held at the historic Dungkar Dzong in Paro.
On the second day of the conference, November 7, Hossain participated in a special session organised by the Bhutan Chapter of the World Food Forum. At the session titled Leadership of Young Asia: The Future of Climate, Clean Air and Food, he presented his award-winning photograph during a segment titled Faces of a Changing Climate: Photography and Storytelling. He also shared the story behind the photograph and highlighted the reality of the water crisis faced by coastal communities.
In recognition of securing second place in the competition, Hossain received the opportunity to attend the conference, accommodation, exemption from the sustainability fee and an official certificate of recognition. His photograph was also selected for exhibition at the conference.
His work has been published by international media outlets and organisations such as National Geographic, BBC, CNN, The Guardian, Forbes, the Financial Times and UNESCO. His photographs and reports have appeared in more than 150 international media outlets and organisations. He has also received more than 200 international photography awards. In 2025, he received the Marai Photography Grant.
The photographer has also achieved notable success on the international stage in recent months. On October 21, he received two recognitions at the 12th Andrei Stenin International Press Photo Contest, held in Moscow, Russia. He won first place in the Aerial Photography – Single Photo category for his photograph titled Floating Friday Prayers. In the same competition, he received a special jury recognition in the Best News – Photo Series category for his documentary photography project titled Flood Crisis.
Beyond Words, Through the Lens
A photograph can sometimes be more powerful than a thousand words. A single image can reveal unseen realities, unspoken suffering and some of the most pressing challenges of our time. Hossain's Where Fresh Water Fades is one such photograph.
Through this image, captured in the coastal region of Satkhira, he has brought the struggles of people in Bangladesh and the harsh realities of climate change to an international audience. His achievement is not merely a personal success; it is also a significant recognition of Bangladeshi documentary photography on the global stage.
News Published By:
Bangladesh Diary
Photo: Muhammad Amdad Hossain
