Where the Smoke Meet the Sea, Where Lives Meet Development

Join this event to experience the work of Noor Alam and Suman Kanti Paul, esteemed photographer and videographer, documenting the lives of the people of the Matarbari region.

We will discuss how people’s lives and the environment have changed since the Matarbari coal-fired power plant project in 2021, sharing perspectives as both a photographer and a Bangladeshi citizen, alongside experts from domestic NGOs, to examine what sustainable development requires today. Following the talk session, we plan to provide a networking opportunity for participants over light refreshments that offer a taste of Bangladeshi culture, helping to bridge the physical and psychological distance from Japan and make these issues feel more tangible and relatable.

■Art Exhibition Overview

In the beautiful coastal area of Matarbari, Bangladesh, there once existed a simple and beautiful way of life that had been passed down through generations. Fishing and salt field workers, and the laughter of children echoing through the markets.

This landscape has been completely transformed by the large-scale coal and imported gas-fired power generation project (MIDI Integrated Development Plan) for which the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) provided planning support.

The exhibition delves into community life – fishing, farming, raising families by the shore – now continued in the shadow of sprawling coal and gas power projects. Join an exploration of smoke and sea as metaphors for livelihood, loss, and transformation amidst contemporary life in Bangladesh, and how art can serve as testimony and resistance.

Step inside. Hear their voices. Feel what’s at stake. Reflect on the future we choose to build