Chittagong is known for its port which is the largest in the city and is 2000 years old. It was founded before the establishment of Mumbai. Before the British finally co-opted the city during the first division of Bengal, it belonged to Arabs, Portuguese and Arakans. As in Dhaka, the streets of Chittagong are overflowing with continuous traffic, commercial activities, noise and colour of clothes and vehicles. Partly it was the interest in local artisans who make these colourful rickshaws that attracted us to come here, about which we wrote a story for another project.
Bangladesh’s dying artform
Chittagong was picked for our story about rickshaw artists and sign painters. The globalisation effects and tourist influence on their jobs and future of rickshaw art.