A unique photo experience in the heart of South Asia

Bangladesh Bishwa Ijtema Muslim Pilgrimage Photo Tour: The “Bishwa Ijtema” World Muslim Congress is held in Bangladesh every year in January since 1942. It is the 2nd largest Muslim congregation in the world after the holy Hajj, More than 4 million Muslims gathered at Bishaw Ijtema. 3 days long activities of devotees praying, praying on the road, discussing Islam, bath, cooking, and others in the congress area. After Congress, the tours continue to the North-East Districts & South Diversity of Bangladesh. In this expedition, you will explore Bangladesh’s rich festivals, overcrowded trains, people, daily life and culture with amazing photography and It’s a great opportunity for you to photography in each place with unparalleled inside access and an extraordinary number of impact image-making.

DAY 01: Arrival Dhaka, Bangladesh

Arrive at Dhaka International Airport & received by our representative, Transfer to hotel for check-in. This afternoon explore old Dhaka city, Dhaka is the capital city of Bangladesh, the World’s most population-density city. Peoples are the most friendly so it’s easier for you to capture people’s photos.

Photoshoot: Rikshaws (Tri wheeler bicycle), Peoples, Traditional Costumes, Streets Photography.
Meals included: Lunch. Dinner. ( Local Luxury Restaurant)

Day 02: Shipyard, Dhaka

Drive to Narayangonj riverside, the place looks like 200 years old riverside city. Thousands of people cross the river by around 3000 local small boats. Asia’s largest shipyard where more than 15000 people are working on dismantling, repairing and creating new ships with the recovered parts.

Photoshoot: Local small boats & riverside daily lives, Shipyards.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

Day 03: Dhaka-Northeast: Coal Port & Batik Village

Drive through to northeast districts on the way 1st stop is the coal port where every day more than 3000 daily laborers come here to unload black coals, bricks and sand carry on their heads from lighter vessels. Next stop, you will explore the biggest tie-dying Batik village of Bangladesh. Here people make colors on fabrics by traditional process and dry fabrics in the open sun, you will see everywhere is color in the village. The second session of this day is rice factories, people working in rice factories, dry rice in the open sun by traditional process. Overnight in the Northeast city.

Photoshoot: Daily labor carry coal and Rice processing in sundry.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Day 04: Stone Mine at Northeast Zone

In the morning drive to the stone mine area on the way, you will explore a floating market on the river and bank of the river where villagers bring vegetables by local small boats for sale. The stone mine is located at the foot of the beautiful Meghalaya Hills in the northeastern part of Bangladesh. It is known for its lush green hills, rolling tea gardens, and a mosaic of stones and rocks. Around 15000 stone laborers (men, women & children) are engaged with stone searching, collecting and crushing in this area. You will enjoy people searching and collecting stones by local traditional boats, winnowing stones, and crushing stones by hand.

Photoshoot: Vegetable Floating Market and stone mine area.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Day 05: Northeast-Dhaka

After breakfast check out of the hotel and Drive through Dhaka city, on the way enter the garbage field where you will explore Men, women & Children collecting junk in the garbage field. Morning fog and garbage fire smoke mix make a dramatic effect in the field that’s great support for photography. In the second session, we will enter factories, people working in rice factories, the lines of rice while the sun-dry process in the courtyard and children playing in the courtyard.

Photoshoot: Garbage field and Rice factories.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Day 06: Dhaka-South City: Brick Factories

In the morning session we will visit brick factories. Around 300 Brick-field surrounding areas of Dhaka city where brick laborers make bricks by hand by traditional process. Red bricks with dust carry on their overhead. Many poor people from the northern part of Bangladesh come to the capital Dhaka in search of a better livelihood. Unable to find good work, they finally survive hard work in Brickfields. Even a whole family works in the brick field and lives in small slums around the brick field. Next drive to South City and overnight there.

Photoshoot: Brick making by hand, Red bricks carry by the head.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day 07: South City South Bay

Early morning visits to the biggest sea fish port and wholesale fish market of Bangladesh. Fishermen unloading sea fishes from boats, repairing fishing nets and drying nets in the sun, making preparations to go deep sea. Second session,  we enter to the At morning drive to the south city After arrival the south city we will enter the biggest aluminum factories zone of Bangladesh, where people make aluminum pots by traditional process. Next, drive through to the South Bay, the world’s longest sea beach and stay overnight there.

Photoshoot: Fishing port, fish market and aluminum factories.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day 08: South Bay World’s Longest Sea Beach

Drive to Moheshkhali island the biggest fishing island in Bangladesh. You will explore colorful moon-shaped boats, fishing on the sea beach, make and repair colorful fishing nets, dragging fishing nets & boats, and enjoy the sunset on the beach.

Photoshoot: Fishing activities, moon-shaped boats, sunset.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & BBQ Dinner.

Day 09: Dry fish village

In the morning visits to the dry fish village, around 5000 families working on the dry fish process, a completely traditional process of drying fish in the sun. After lunch explore seaside fishing activities and children play at the sea beach until sunset.

Photoshoot: Dry fish process and fishing activities.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner.

Day 10: Fish Port – Dhaka

Early morning visit the fishing port and market, It’s the place of buzzing with fishermen, traders and buyers from morning to night, the place is always in a celebratory mood. Fishing trawlers are returning to the fishing port full of fish, some were loading fish into warehouses, some were breaking ice, and others were arranging fish in baskets. Many traders were also sending truckloads of fish to different parts of the country. We will also visit the wholesale fishing market beside the fishing port. Next back to the hotel, breakfast and rest. Afternoon we will take the local flight to Dhaka.

Photoshoot: Fish port and wholesale fish market.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner.

Day 11: Dhaka Muslim Congress

1st day of “Bishwa Ijtema” the World Muslim Congress, the World Muslim Congress held in Bangladesh every year in January since 1942. It is the 2nd largest Muslim congregation in the world after the holy Hajj, More than 4 million Muslims gathered at Bishaw Ijtema. 3 days long activities of devotees praying, praying on the road, discussing on Islam, bath, cooking, and others in the congress area.

Photoshoot: Pray on the road, overcrowded train & devotees activities.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch (Packet) & Dinner.

Day 12: Leather Processing, Plastic Recycling & Motor Parts street

In the morning we will enter the leather processing area, drying, coloring and other processes of leather. Next, the plastic bottle recycling area where children and women work to shorten and clean plastic bottles and stack plastic bottles. After lunch,  visit the old motor parts street in old Dhaka. Street shops buying and selling old motor parts used in car

Photoshoot: Plastic recycling, leather processing, motor parts street.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day 13: Muslim Congress Final Pray

The final day and final pray day are the most exciting for photography. On this day from early morning, lots of Muslims come toward the congress area by overcrowded trains, buses & boats. All around the congress area, on the train line, and on the highway road, Muslims sit and stand for the final pray. After the final pray Muslims return home by overcrowded trains, buses, boats, risky rides to the roof of the trains, buses, boats, and other transport  End of the day you have free time for shopping at the market near the hotel. Special Farewell Dinner tonight, spectacular views over the city, and time to review your images by Yousuf Tushar. (B.L.D)

Photoshoot: Final pray, overcrowded trains
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch (packet), Dinner.

Day 14: Chicken Market- Departure

Early Morning Explore the chicken market. After breakfast prepare to check out the hotel. According to your individual Flight departure time, we will drop you at the airport and bid a fond farewell. We hope your unforgettable memories call you again to this land and show up your Bangladesh’s great images.

Photoshoot: Chicken Market.
Meals included: Breakfast

You will learn how to