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She is the sea

Two women in black niqabs wade through the waves at Cox’s Bazar Beach, Bangladesh, finding joy and connection in the embrace of the sea.

Awards

Black & White Photo Contest

2025

Honorable Mention

People

Professional

She is the sea

Two women in black niqabs wade through the waves at Cox’s Bazar Beach, Bangladesh, finding joy and connection in the embrace of the sea.

About Artist

Mahmud Hossain Opu

Mahmud Hossain Opu is an award-winning photojournalist from Dhaka, Bangladesh. With a career spanning over a decade, his work has been featured in esteemed publications such as The New York Times, National Geographic, and The Economist. Starting as a staff photographer at The Dhaka Tribune in 2013, he rose to Chief Photographer before taking on assignments with the Associated Press (AP), where he is currently working as a photojournalist, covering breaking news and spot news. Mahmud has documented pivotal moments in Bangladesh’s history, including the Rana Plaza collapse, the Rohingya refugee crisis, political upheavals, and terror attacks. His Covid-19 coverage, A Nation with No Cure, was exhibited at the Chobi Mela International Photography Festival in 2021. In 2022, he received a Fellowship from the International Visitor Leadership Summit and became an Alumni of the U.S. Department of State. In 2024, he received a scholarship to study at the International Center of Photography (ICP) in Documentary Practice and Visual Journalism. Dedicated to impactful storytelling, Mahmud continues to shed light on critical social issues through his powerful imagery.

Mahmud Hossain Opu

Photographic Areas of Focus

Advertising & Commercial, Aerial, Event & Wedding, Fashion & Beauty, Landscapes, Nature, People, Photojournalism, Portrait, Sports, Still Life, Street, Travel, Wildlife

Location

Bangladesh

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