In a developing country like Bangladesh the depth of political unrest bears a harsh reality for hundreds on innocent people, the onset of election fuelled violence within an already unstable country fast becomes an inescapable brutality. Despite the size of such a country the spread of these traumatic events are felt far and wide and seek to destroy family structures instantly. With so little that can desensitise the general public from the grips of these horrors the enormity of the loss remains present within a community for years to come.
In 2013 the Bangladesh people sought to gain justice against these incomprehensible killings on two occasions, - the first in April when locals witnessed a garments factory collapse and take the lives of 1100 workers, and again in November, when a 14 year old boy suffering burns to his upper body toppled into the emergency unit of a public hospital in the country’s capital.
Sadly these stories are not a decreasing statistic with 2013 becoming the worst year for political violence related deaths, a total of 507 people were killed making it the highest fatality rate since the country's independence four decades ago.
The high level of poverty within Bangladesh has ignited the search for low cost- high potency weapons in the face of violence; the popularity of Petrol-bombs has seen an enormous level of damage inflicted upon society in recent years. These deadly objects seek to disfigure faces, destroy limbs and consequently many lives. The effect this weapon has upon ones appearance is eternal, with the victim’s well-loved face transformed into an unrecognisable mask of horror.
Whilst the hype surrounding such attacks begins to cease with the passing of time the harrowing ramifications for victims and their families continues to linger long after headlines are made. As they attempt to regain some sense of normality in their once harmonious lives the question of who is next hangs heavily in the air, the intensity of such a threat is etched into the faces of innocent people around the country.
Despite the prominence of such an issue appearing obvious to those of us fortunate to live in a country such as Australia it is a subject given little recognition and support in Bangladesh, the Burns unit at Dhaka Medical College & Hospital is the only government funded project for a country that holds over 150 Million People.
Within the walls of this low grade medical facility the outpour of patients’ needs are too often dismissed as it struggles to adequately treat serious injuries due to poor conditions, hygiene & a lack of staffing. Riddled with the stench of burning flesh the hospital exists as a harsh reminder to victims within that the damage propelled upon them is a scar that refuses to fade.
For those of you reading these statistics their weight exists in numbers, heavy content that positions you to question just how different the concept of politics and government is outside your own country. It's an alarming reality that shows no signs of diminishing as it's impact continues to reach far and wide. The beauty and the beast of these still images is their ability to halt the silence through your outcry for justice. For ever reaction you dare to give, and for all the uproar we seek to show - we are speaking for those who no longer can, every single victim of politics.
