Staff Reporter, Dhaka : Japan International Cooperation Agency (J) Bangladesh has announced a national-level photography competition to capture Bangladesh's development through the eyes of ordinary people.
Titled 'My Bangladesh My Development, the competition invites individuals from all walks of life, as well as photography enthusiasts, to portray the nations development as they perceive it through their own lenses.
The initiative seeks to highlight the everyday stories of progress and development that people across Bangladesh witness in their daily lives and to draw wider attention to these narratives through photography.
The contest will remain open until January 20, 2026, and participants are required to submit one original photograph, taken with smartphones or professional cameras, that reflects the theme of development in Bangladesh.
The entries must be shared from the participant’s personal Facebook profile, which must be set to public, accompanied by the hashtags #MyBangladeshMyDevelopment and #JICABangladesh. The photo also must be submitted via the designated google form, along with a photo description explaining how the photo relates to
development and conveys the story behind the moment captured. Content that is downloaded, plagiarized, or generated with AI tools will not be accepted.
Entries will be evaluated by a panel appointed by JICA Bangladesh. Judgement will be based on several criteria, including relevance to the theme, technical quality, editing, originality, storytelling, creativity, and overall composition. The reach of the Facebook post will also inform the decision-making process.
Shortlisted entries will be digitally exhibited by JICA Bangladesh and the top four photos will receive cash prizes.
Some of the shortlisted entries may be featured on JICA’s website, social media platforms, and other communication materials around the world, with proper credit given to the photographer.
JICA Bangladesh encourages participants to prioritize their safety while taking photographs and to ensure that all photographs are taken within the boundaries of ethical and legal standards. Through this project, JICA aims to document and showcase the development stories of Bangladesh as recorded by the Bangladeshi people.