Picture of the Week

Angami Nagas in traditional attire look on as they wait to perform during the first day of the annual celebration of Hornbill Festival at Kisama,Nagaland,India. December 02 2008. © Goirik Saikiav / DrikNEWS

'Protyasha', a memorial sculpture of the 'Freedom Fighters' of 1971 Liberation War, created by Mrinal Haque, near Bango Bazaar, in Dhaka, Bangladesh. August 1, 2008. © K. M. Asad/Drik/Majority World

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One careless moment in a kitchen and a blazing fire spreads rapidly destroying over 200 shanty dwellings and injuring 20 in the Sweeper's Colony slum in Hazaribagh, Bangladesh. The burden of poverty got heavier for those made destitute by this disaster with the loss of their meager belongings and homes. Dhaka, Bangladesh. November 21 2008. © Munir uz Zaman / DrikNEWS

Sand artists of the Aryan Group Md. Moynul Haque, Deep Roy, Kuljit Das, Jun Das and Rahul Roy depict the rule by terror in a in a 'Terrorism' sculpture from a sand dune on the banks of the Brahmaputra river near Guwahati, the capital city of India's Northeastern state, Assam, India. Terrorism and the unending stream of its horrifying manifestations whether it is inflicted by rebels, insurgents, paramilitaries, separatists, militants, guerrillas, insurrectionists, fundamentalists or even ruling powers is not only an issue in Assam but also in most of our South Asian countries. Assam, India. November 12 2008 ©Rajib Jyoti Sarma, Assam, India / DrikNEWS

More than 800 people including women and children are involved in the aluminum industry situated in Chittagong. Workers of this industry, which makes new aluminum products from rejected recycled materials as well as new aluminum sheets, are forced to work without proper protection and safety measures in conditions that are very risky and harmful for health. Chittagong, Bangladesh. November 06 2008. © Jashim Salam / DrikNEWS

Fishermen bring in their catch of the popular 'Hilsa' fish, ignorant of the ban during breeding season imposed by the Department of Fisheries (DoF), Bangladesh. The ban seeks to encourage breeding and coincides with the spawning period, which this year was during the waning phase of the moon, from October 15 to 28. During this period thousands of female Hilsas travel form their normal deep sea habitats to the shallow coastal waters to spawn making them an easy catch. DoF says anybody violating the restriction will face a six-month imprisonment and a fine of Tk 1000 and that this will double for repeat offenders. However, this information is not communicated to the poor fishermen, who see this as an easy way to supplement their incomes. Chittagong, Bangladesh. October 28 2008 © Raj Anikat/DrikNEWS

A girl playfully hangs from the door handle of a train, in Chittagong, Bangladesh. September 23, 2006. Photo: Aftab Tuhin / Drik / Majority World

In recent findings by ICDDRB across 85% children within the age of 6 to 11months in Bangladesh are suffering from anaemia. Among teenage girls and pregnant women this rate is as high as 40 to 46%. According to experts anaemia in children causes retardation or slow intellectual growth, diminishes resistance, and aggravates breathing, kidney and skin diseases. Among adults it results in loss of working ability. The current statistics offer ample scope for worry. This problem can be overcome with a few precautions. Dhaka, Bangladesh. October 12 2008 © Amdadul Huq/DrikNEWS

A pay dispute between the management and employees of Islam Dresses Ltd, erupted in violence when the police baton charged the demonstrators at Malibagh Chowdhuripara. The garment workers claimed the management was not honouring a promised 100 percent bonus for the Eid festival. At least 30 people were injured in clash with police while the workers damaged 40 vehicles. Dhaka, Bangladesh. September 20 2008. © R Hassan / DrikNEWS

The Border Security Force (BSF) members of India keep vigil on Tripura’s 856 km long international border between India and Bangladesh. India. March 7 2007. © Photo: Manoj Deka/DrikNEWS/Majority World

A.K.M. Faisal Rahman Kishor, a student of the Jahangirnagar University, English department lies injured after an attack by the members of the University’s Chatra Dol and Chatro League. Kishor, one of the leading members of the recent sexual harassment movement said, ‘The University administration used attackers to hit me.’ The movement had stressed the need to create an environment that is in keeping with an institution of greater learning and advancement. However, the University Authorities have not looked favourably at the challenge on the masculine academic regime of power and privileges. Thus, the adoption of a proposed draft policy to afford protection for women against unwanted sexual advances, has yet to see the light of day. Dhaka, Bangladesh. September 16 2008 © Amdadul Huq/DrikNews

A father bathes a rescued child in a relief camp in Banmankhi Purnea after surviving the wrath of the Kosi river when it burst its fortified embankments. Flooding has been held at bay for 45 years but nature and man-made environmental degradation seems to have changed the course of the river this time. The unprecedented floods claimed 63 lives and made over 3.3 million people destitute in India.Bihar, India. September 08 2008 © Prashanth Vishwanathan/DrikNews

A military vehicle of the Afghan National Army, ANA, on patrol, as a part of the tight security measures for the four day long Afghan–Pakistan Joint Peace Jirga, convened in Kabul, Afghanitan. August 09, 2007. © Imal Hashimi / Drik / Majority World

When natural disasters strike the most affected are the poor. Despite much aid being directed towards early hazard warning systems and disaster management, Governments have often lacked the political commitment needed to put into place adequate safeguards to protect the poor from frequent disasters. In the recent floods the surging waters of the Jamuna washed away a section of the flood-protection embankment in Sariakandi, Bogra flooding two villages. Hundreds of people were marooned, 3000 people who feared that more areas would be inundated were displaced. Many have lost their, homes, belongings and meager life savings and now risk falling ill with water born infections. Bogra, Bangladesh. September 03 2008. © Shafiq Islam/DrikNews

The reason for the death of this elephant at Shurajpur Vilajipara, Bangladesh could not be determined by the local forest department authorities. Elephants are plant eating forest dwelling mammals who have roamed the earth for millions of years. They are majestic extraordinary intelligent and have held a central place in Asian history and religion as one of man?s much loved animals. Yet, man himself is their number one enemy having driven them to near extinction by hunting and poaching them for their valuable ivory tusks and meat. These largest living land mammals are now threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation of herds and increasing conflicts with humans. Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. August 20 2008. © Mohammad Islam/DrikNews

Chanting and singing on the beach as the celebrations begin.On February 2, the city of Salvador, Bahia, celebrates the sea goddess Iemanja, casting offerings into the sea at Rio Vermelho beach. Salvador, Brazil. February 2, 2008. Photo: Diego Martinez / Majority World Asia Md. Abdullah Al – Faruque Drik Picture Library Ltd. Bangladesh Rest of the World Rowan Watts Majority World (UK) The United Kingdom
A girl playing in Payatas, the biggest garbage dumpsite in Metro Manila. Populated mostly by migrants from the south of the Philippines, in search of a better life and income, they soon realize that life in urban Manila can be harsh. Most of them suffer from tuberculosis, diarrhea, asthma and other ailments born out of living in the garbage dump. In 2000, a portion of the Payatas collapsed after a week of rain, killing about 3000 men, women and children working in the dumpsite. Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines.
Photo: Nana Buxani / Drik / Majority World
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Millions of Bangladeshi people celebrate the Bangla New Year 1415, or Pohela Baishakh, a festival rooted deep in the cultural tradition of the nation. The festival is celebrated with colorful rally, music, dance, theatre, foods and stalls, etc. Dhaka, Bangladesh. April 14, 2008. Photo: K. M. ASAD / Drik / Majority World www.majorityworld.com Asia Md. Abdullah Al – Faruque Drik Picture Library Ltd. Bangladesh email: library@drik.net Rest of the World Rowan Watts Majority World (UK) The United Kingdom email: majorityworld@aol.com

Jiten Sakhari, 74, collects arsenic affected water from a tube-well at Jayantipara village in Gaighata, 76 killometre north of Kolkata. Sakhari says that his illness is caused by drinking arsenic-contaminated water. India. June 2, 2005.
Photo: Sucheta Das / Drik India / Majority World
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Kashmir’s Dal Lake, a popular tourism spot. Indian Kashmir. February, 2008.
Photo: Shuaib Masoodi / Majority World
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A group of Pakistani soldiers after surrender. Bangladesh. December, 1971.
Photo: Bal Krishnan / Drik / Majority World
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A Young lady carrying maize. Mozambique. 1990s. Photo: Andrew Bannister / africanpictures.net / Majority World www.majorityworld.com Asia Md. Abdullah Al – Faruque Drik Picture Library Ltd. Bangladesh email: library@drik.net­­­­ Rest of the World Rowan Watts Majority World (UK) The United Kingdom email: majorityworld@aol.com

Pooja Gurung, a young Nepali TV personality, is an iconic figure signaling the rise of the Nepali contemporary theatre scene.Nepal 18 May 2007.
Photo: NayanTara Gurung Kakshapati/Majority World
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The Suryakiran aerobatic team of the Indian Air Force performs during the platinum jubilee of Indian Air Force and diamond jubilee of Air Force Station Srinagar, Kashmir, India. September 24, 2007.
Photo: Abid Rasool / Majority World
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Fishing boats return to land after a night of deep sea fishing. Negombo, Sri Lanka. July 9, 2005.
Panduka de Silva / Majority World
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A rare male strange-horned chameleon, found in the Rwenzori Mountains, where it has been overcollected for the wildlife trade. Uganda. 2007.
Byekwaso Blasio / Majority World
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Nasima, from a conservative family has no other means, as photo is required for a loan from the local NGO. Dhal Char, Vola, Bangladesh. January 14, 2008.
Photo: Shehab Uddin / Drik / Majority World
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