Sharif Khiam Ahmed

I went through one of the toughest times in my journalism career from July 15 to August 5, 2024. Being able to report on the mass uprising against the dictatorship, which began with a nonviolent student demonstration, was undoubtedly an unforgettable experience. We closely observed how the violent actions taken by the overthrown Awami League government to suppress the student movement led to the complete collapse of the party. Throughout this period, I was mostly accompanied by my senior colleague, Kamran Reza Chowdhury, whom I considered a brother-in-arms. We traveled mostly on his yellow Vespa. After Sheikh Hasina's escape, when people rushed to her residence, Ganobhaban, we both left this Vespa at the gate and entered. After roughly two hours, we attempted to depart, but the Vespa was nowhere. But Kamran Bhai has no regrets about losing the Vespa, as he was so excited to be a part of this historic event. He was only stating what we had seen! We should also document these stories...

Memories of Home , our visual story series on Myanmar memories of the Rohingya living in Bangladesh, won the Telly Award in three categories in the US in May last year. The two trophies for the award came from New York to Washington DC, and finally to Bangladesh. Coincidentally, I received the Edward R. Murrow Award trophy from FedEx on the same date in 2022.  Finding this on Facebook Memory surprised me. But as I took the trophy this time from Emma Say, Head of Video at BenarNews, accepting the honor was much more meaningful for me. A delight also comes from being awarded along with Abdur Rahman . As a local journalist from any place outside of the capital succeeds, I feel thrilled. That's where I began my journalism career as well. As I mentioned earlier, " Memories of Home " was a life-changing event for me as a journalist. I've never had to spend as much time in the field and at the table while producing a series.  Many thanks to Kate Beddall, my managing editor...

Photo: Abdur Rahman Humanity is going through an enigmatic time right now, as it does at every turn. In December 2023, from Bangladesh, I saw that many poets, painters, singers, authors, and filmmakers have already become digital content creators, either because of various trappings of capitalism or due to technological blessings. This medialization has made every attempt to commercialize any artistic efforts. And contemporary journalists have gradually turned into viralists. In a nutshell, "journalism" in the present era is greatly influenced by "viralism." Has our media literacy or common sense evolved as tools like social media and smartphones have developed?

I'm in my 20th year in journalism. As a professional journalist, I still need to learn something new to survive, even after 19 years. Analyzing myself, this is the fundamental reason I am still attracted to journalism. Learning anything new is always a challenge that I relish. Thus, my journalism has had the most impact on who I am. Consequently, I want to carry out two initiatives to mark this 20th year. 1. I'll draft a manuscript titled "The Sequences of Various Thoughts." I want to portray the tale of a local newspaper reporter's journey to become an international media journalist and the evolution of his diverse viewpoints. 2. I want to do "visual interviews" with some of the people who have taught me a lot or from whom I need to learn a lot as a journalist. They are mostly journalists. I'll also chat about mass communication with other pros. I posted these ideas on my blog and personal Facebook timeline to inspire myself. But, my friends, if you...

I captured both of these photos this year. The one on the left was taken in July from a Rohingya camp in Teknaf Upazila, Cox's Bazar . The other photograph was taken in September in Dhaka 's Segunbagicha area. The latest generation of smartphones is taking over childhood everywhere. How safe or scary are these images? Please share your thoughts.

Press show In August 2015, I joined "Laal Moroger Jhuti" (Call of the Red-Rooster) as a film worker. Our first team meeting was in the Dhaka residence of the filmmaker couple, Nurul Alam Atique-Matia Banu Shuku, also the writer-director and producer of the film. Then I started on a long voyage with this film and we visited different areas of Dhaka, Kushtia, Syedpur, Dinajpur, Thakurgaon. Later, the film's production came to a halt, and in my reality, I was unable to maintain a steady connection with the work. Yet, I tried to engage with the film in various ways and noticed more about the film's behind-the-scenes. Family show In his statement at the first meeting, Atique Bhai said that in the current context, his production team needs to carry out a "liberation fight of Bengali cinema" to complete the production of this government-funded film. After that battle, when I sat in the auditorium of the Bangladesh Film Archive in December 2021, watching the film...

With my child, March 2022 "Today, the people of Bengal want freedom. The people of Bengal want to live. The people of Bengal want to have their rights," the father of our nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman , said in his historic speech on March 7, 1971. Despite a half-century of liberty, farmers continue to commit suicide due to a shortage of irrigation water. Until now, the helpless father has refused to seek justice for his child's death at the hands of political thugs. So, even on our country's 51st birthday, I'm terrified. In this state, how safe would my child be? Another Rajshahi farmer dies after suicide bid ‘for irrigation water’ Irrigation water: Back against wall, Santal farmer dies by suicide ‘There’s no justice here’ -Father of slain college girl says he won’t file case " Hindus , Muslims , Bengalis and non-Bengalis, all those who live in this Bangla are our brothers. The responsibility of protecting them is on you. Ensure that our reput...

Edward R. Murrow Award That trophy, which is the only one I've got in my career, has finally arrived. It's most probably the first Edward R. Murrow Award, a prestigious national prize in the United States, to reach Bangladesh.  Since 1971, the Radio Television Digital News Association ( RTDNA ) has recognized outstanding achievements in electronic journalism with the Murrow Awards. It flew hundreds of kilometres from Washington and landed at Dhaka Airport on 26 December 2021. Unfortunately, it took a long time to pay the customs fee and solve other issues, including FedEx 's lack of cooperation. Even so, I am delighted to receive the award. I am grateful to Kate Beddall , my managing editor, for taking the initiative to collect a copy of the award from RTDNA and send it to Bangladesh. At the same time, I'd want to thank all of my colleagues at BenarNews and Radio Free Asia (RFA). Above all, I'd want to dedicate this recognition to the COVID volunteers, for whose g...

Saleh Biplob  and Sharif Khiam, 2021 |    Ni Mithu Saleh Biplob is a Bangladeshi journalist who worked in the first decade of the country's commercial TV broadcasting. I first saw him as a 'Channel I' journalist, although he joined TV almost eight years after beginning his career in the newspaper. He was still a faraway figure for me five years later when I started working as a crime reporter in Dhaka. I was able to get close to him just a few days after the start of political reporting. Then, as my interest in TV dramas and films grew, I convinced him to act in a fictional production. However, he failed to show up at the shooting location at the last minute. Yet my relation with him never deteriorated. Our intimacy has grown with each passing day. That's why, after meeting him after so many years, it seemed like we had a chat just yesterday. Today, I'll reveal another secret, this man's appearance influenced me to grow a moustache. Saleh Biplob  and Sharif Khi...

Collage of images collected from Facebook Late journalist Habibur Rahman 's longtime friend Ali Asif Shawon , hundreds of colleagues and countless followers had never experienced such a tragic day. Without a doubt, that was the most painful day of his beloved wife and kid's life. I first saw Habib Bhai in the Media Lounge of the National Parliament House almost a decade ago. His charming smile charmed me from the beginning. We last met at the Dhaka Reporters' Unity (DRU) on January 15. Amitosh Da, Foyez Bhai, Dipan and he were playing cards together. Uttam Da was seated at a nearby table. I said my goodbyes to everyone and returned home. Who knew, at the time, that I was bidding my final farewell to Habib Bhai? He still had that natural smile on his face. We'll never have to say goodbye to him again. From now on, he will always be with us. We may get old, but he will always be a cheerful young man. "Life is so short, so uncertain! Habibur Rahman, a promising B...

Sharif Khiam and Abdur Rahman | 2018 Every dedicated reporter working outside of the capital deserves my respect. Because they each perform like a one-man army. As a correspondent of one or more Dhaka -based media outlets, they always cover a wide range of topics, including politics, crime, courts, sports, and entertainment. However, they never get enough acknowledgement from their offices. As I began my reporting career in a divisional town in South Bengal, I was typically aware of this exploitation of Dhaka. Even now, the situation hasn't improved significantly. This is fortunate for Bangladeshi journalism since remote reporters are constantly motivated by their own interests. Abdur Rahman is one of my top three beloved journalists covering the countryside. He is my favourite tour guide in Rohingya -populated regions. Having him as a brother-in-arms boosts my productivity. Sharif Khiam  and  Abdur Rahman  | 2021

Barisal | 2006 | Photo: Sharif Khiam The rain-soaked new look of childhood's favorite alleys-roads and corners, the wise surge of old trees, padma-pukur (pond of lotus), Sunil or Apuda's tea with the silence of the Jail Khal (canal) and Bagan (garden), the curious gaze of hundreds of familiar and unfamiliar eyes, Lechu Shah, dead friends, Tapa Pagla, Town Hall, from the cows and goats of the grasslands on the banks of the Kirtankhola to the ilish (hilsa) floating in the clouds, gallinule's call in the old bush, rows of swan running through clear water or the noise of the egret's returning , row upon row of known- unknown lights, shops, magazines, organizations, the fading Tagore or Nawab Estate, Brahmamandir, market built on the land of 'Shaheber gorshthan' (crischtan Graveyard) adjacent to Brown Compound, Modified Jail gate and unchanged Doi Ghor (yogurt house), thirty-five year old Shobdaboli , a new offspring of the Shalik-sparrow living on the ventilator ...

Jibon Ahmed | 21 February 2022 | Photo: Sharif Khiam   Jibon Ahmed is not just one of my beloved photojournalists , but also one of my personal heroes. I've always been overjoyed with his success. He became a part of another history as one of the first Bangladesh Press Photography Award winners. I'm confident he'll achieve more institutional recognition in the future. Because he believes that being a happy person is more important than being a good photographer. Jibon was fired from his job in 2018 as he published public kiss scenes on social media . This well-known photojournalist became unemployed after being vindicated by the Bengali Online News Portal " purboposhchimbd ." Yet, at the time, the portal's editor, Khujista Nur-e-Naharin Munni , told me, "The final decision has not been taken in this regard yet." Previously, during the attack on writer and blogger Abhijit Roy in 2015, Jibon had photographed the scene. He was the one to take Aviji...