The photography exhibition “EMBER”, featuring the works of internationally renowned Bangladeshi photographer GMB Akash, opened on Monday at Gallery 350, Maldives, bringing powerful stories of ordinary people, human dignity, resilience and everyday life to audiences in the Maldives.

The opening ceremony was attended by Ambassador Dr Md Nazmul Islam, High Commissioner of Bangladesh to the Maldives, alongside the Ambassador of Japan, diplomats representing the United States, China and Sri Lanka, members of the diplomatic community, Maldivian art and cultural circles, members of the local community, and Bangladeshi and other international communities residing in the Maldives.

Organised by Gallery 350, the exhibition presents a selection of GMB Akash’s acclaimed photographic works documenting the lives of children, workers, families and communities across Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Pakistan and other parts of the region.

For decades, GMB Akash has used photography to bring greater visibility to people and communities whose stories often remain outside mainstream attention. His work goes beyond conventional representations of poverty and hardship, instead portraying human dignity, resilience, relationships, humour, hope and the strength embedded in ordinary lives.

High commissioner highlights art as an instrument of cultural diplomacy

Addressing the opening ceremony, High Commissioner Dr Md Nazmul Islam said that an exhibition such as “EMBER” represents much more than a display of photographs; it provides an opportunity for people of Bangladesh and the Maldives to understand one another through shared human experiences.

He observed that culture and art constitute an important dimension of Bangladesh’s public diplomacy and soft power, as they enable a country to communicate its identity, values and worldview not only through official channels but also through human stories and emotional connections.

The high commissioner said that Bangladesh’s relationship with the Maldives is not limited to government-to-government engagement, economic cooperation or the movement of people between the two countries. It is also a relationship between societies, communities and people.

“Art has a unique ability to build bridges where words sometimes cannot. A photograph can cross borders, languages and national boundaries and create an immediate human connection. This is why cultural diplomacy is an important component of our broader engagement with the Maldives,” he said.

Referring to his concept of the “Power of Bonding,” Dr Nazmul Islam said that sustainable relations between countries are ultimately strengthened when people develop mutual understanding, familiarity and emotional connections with one another.

He noted that Bangladesh and the Maldives already share important bonds through history, the Indian Ocean, people-to-people relations, education, trade, tourism, labour mobility and growing cultural interactions.

“The Power of Bonding is about creating connections between people — connections that gradually transform into mutual understanding, trust and friendship. An exhibition like EMBER contributes to that process by allowing Maldivian audiences to see Bangladesh not simply as a country or a diplomatic partner, but through the lives, emotions and experiences of its people,” the high commissioner said.

Dr Nazmul Islam further noted that cultural diplomacy should complement traditional diplomacy by creating spaces where artists, intellectuals, students, young people, professionals and ordinary citizens can interact.

“Our diplomatic relationship becomes stronger when our societies know each other better. Cultural exchanges create that human space. They allow us to discover similarities, appreciate differences and build relationships beyond formal diplomatic structures,” he added.

GMB Akash emphasises human dignity and fair wages

Speaking at the opening, photographer and artist GMB Akash reflected on the human stories behind his photographs and the importance of recognising the dignity and humanity of people living and working at the margins of society.

He emphasised that his work seeks to bring attention to the lives of marginalised communities and to portray them not merely through the lens of hardship, but as individuals with dignity, aspirations, relationships and dreams.

Akash also underscored the importance of fair wages, humane working conditions and respect for the dignity of workers, particularly those whose contributions often remain unnoticed.

Through his photographs, he seeks to encourage audiences to look beyond statistics and stereotypes and to recognise the human beings behind them.

A platform for Bangladesh-Maldives cultural engagement

The Bangladesh high commission welcomed the exhibition as an important platform for expanding cultural and people-to-people relations between Bangladesh and the Maldives.

The participation of members of the Maldivian community, the diplomatic corps, Bangladeshi expatriates and other international residents created an opportunity for wider interaction around art, society and shared human experiences.

The high commission noted that such cultural initiatives can contribute to a broader understanding of Bangladesh among Maldivian audiences while simultaneously creating opportunities for greater cultural interaction between the two countries.

The exhibition also demonstrates how Bangladesh’s creative and artistic community can contribute to the country’s international cultural presence and strengthen its soft power through art, photography and storytelling.

Bangladesh high commission to expand cultural diplomacy initiatives

The Bangladesh high commission in the Maldives reaffirmed that it will continue to support and participate in artistic, cultural and intellectual programmes that contribute to stronger Bangladesh-Maldives relations.

The high commission plans to engage in more exhibitions, cultural programmes, artistic exchanges, literary events, educational initiatives and other people-to-people activities in the future as part of its broader public and cultural diplomacy efforts.

The high commission believes that the promotion of Bangladeshi art and culture in the Maldives can create new avenues for mutual understanding and strengthen the bonds between the peoples of the two countries.

The exhibition “EMBER” will remain open to the public at Gallery 350, Maldives, from 20 September to 15 October 2026.

The Bangladesh high commission encourages members of the diplomatic community, Maldivian society, the Bangladeshi expatriate community, art enthusiasts, students, young people and the wider public to visit the exhibition and experience the human stories captured through the lens of GMB Akash.