Images

Andrew Biraj completed a basic course in photography from Pathshala in 1999, working alongside in a local weekly magazine, before traveling through Bangladesh to pursue his own work as a photojournalist. Throughout the years in his own country, Biraj photographed stories from the political brutality of Bangladesh to the solitude life of his old grandma. He often focuses on the people living on the fringe from the social, political and environmental perspectives.

Since then, he has worked on numerous stories in the UK, Cambodia, Myanmar and Bangladesh, including his ongoing project ‘State Excluded’, a photo essay about the stranded Bihari community in Bangladesh.

Biraj completed advanced diploma in photography from The South Asian Institute of Photography- Pathshala. In 2004 he obtained a full scholarship from the University of Bolton, UK to finish his B.A in Photography.

He has been selected for the World Press Photo JoopSwart Masterclass grant in 2008.

He won 1st Prize in the “Environmental Picture Story” category of “Best of Photojournalism” by NPPA; 2008

Bronze prize in the 3rd China International Press Photo Contest (CHIPP); 2007

Winner of Press Award with Karen McVeigh of The Guardian in One world Media Award; 2008

2nd Prize in the Photojournalism category in Venice International Photo Contest; 2007.

His work has been featured worldwide, including Visa Pour l’Image, Perpignan, France.
Angkor photo festival in Cambodia.
International Photography Biennial of the Islamic World in Iran.
Noorderlicht photo festival ‘Act of Faith’ in The Netherlands.
Kiyosato Museum of Photographic Arts in Japan.
Tops- World Photojournalism Festival in China.
S. Maria della Pieta’in Venice; Italy.
National Art Gallery in Malaysia.
Drik Gallery in Bangladesh and University of Bolton in UK.

Biraj has also been published in The New York Times, The Guardian, The Observer Magazine, Courrier International, Asian GEO, Saudi Aramaco World, Himal Southasian, Photo File, F2, I Care, New Age, Forum Magazine of Daily Star and in many other international publications.

He lives in Dhaka, Bangladesh.