Disappearing Roots by Shamshul Alam Helal

Disappearing Roots considers the displacement of indigenous people in the hill tracts of Bangladesh. The Kaptai dam was built in 1962 as a hydropower source, and it produces about 5% of the total electricity consumed by Bangladesh. However, its creation displaced over 100,000 people (70% Chakma) and also submerged many homes, including the palace of the Chakma king which remains buried deep underneath a lake that is currently frequented by tourists. Globally over ten million people per year are displaced by World Bank development projects (dams and infrastructure projects). Through video and photography created through the artist’s long-term engagement with the hill tract communities, this work captures the remaining traces of ancient ways of life, highlighting the violence of gentrification and the trauma found in submerged symbols of cultural autonomy. The landscape is soaked and baked in a new form and the tourists eat it but still some raw items are there from before and still give sustenance to hill tracts communities. These elements are all baked together in Helal's piece and can be printed in KPM paper. *

Samsul Alam Helal (Photographer) is a freelance visual Artist based in Dhaka, Bangladesh. He completed his graduation in photography from Pathshala South Asian Media Institute. Helal love to make fiction to question the reality.

Shamshul Awarded Prince Claus Fund and British Council Grant for South Asian Artist 2018. Visiting Artist Fellowship at Harvard University 2018. The World Press Photo JoopSwart Masterclass in 2016.