Why Jibon Ahmed’s viral picture shocked so many in conservative Bangladesh

THIS innocent picture of two young lovers kissing in the rain led to a photographer being brutally beaten up and then sacked.

EARLIER this month, Bangladeshi newspaper photographer Jibon Ahmed stumbled upon a “symbol of pure love” — two young students sharing a kiss during a monsoon downpour.

The 30-year-old quickly snapped a beautiful photo of the pair, and uploaded it to Facebook and Instagram last week.

But that innocent action would not only end up costing him his job, but also see him savagely attacked by thugs.

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The photo, which was taken at the University of Dhaka with the lovers’ permission, went viral almost immediately after being posted online.

But while many celebrated the photo, it also caused a serious divide in the conservative, majority-Muslim nation where public affection is deeply frowned upon.

Mr Ahmed told the Washington Post his editors had refused to publish the image out of fear of backlash from readers, which prompted him to share it on social media.

But the next day, he claims a group of his colleagues cornered him and beat him up.

And the day after the attack, Mr Ahmed said he was suddenly stood down without explanation, although he said his former employer had promised to take legal action regarding the assault.

Mr Ahmed, who has since deleted the photo from his own social media accounts, told the Washington Post he was now concerned for his safety.

“The couple had a spontaneous lip kiss; I found nothing wrong in them or no obscenity,” Mr Ahmed said.

“Of course I am disheartened. Some people in our country became educated only in papers, but they are not educated in a real sense.

“They failed to realise the underlying meaning of my photograph. I am also a bit worried about myself.”

This image of a kissing couple has gone viral. Picture: Jibon Ahmed

Nevertheless, other members of the media have leapt to Mr Ahmed’s defence.

Writing about the incident in the Dhaka Tribune, reporter Tanim Ahmed said press freedom was under threat “in these suffocating times”.

He slammed the “vulgar commentary” surrounding the photograph on social media among conservatives.

“Some thought this would encourage rape. Some said this is what encouraged women’s harassment. Others said the couple were sinning and that this would encourage women to become loose and abandon their families,” he wrote.

“It is as if this single photograph of a simple kiss … would send the nation spiralling into mayhem.

“It is difficult to determine which is more disturbing. That so many people are so vocal against this simple and innocent expression of love or the extent that their vulgar thoughts can sink to.”

This latest controversy comes just days after three conservative students were suspended from the same campus where the picture was snapped after they allegedly attacked two students for holding hands.

In a country gripped by growing extremism, it’s no wonder one conservative blogger responded to Mr Ahmed’s picture by claiming that “lovers are getting more audacious by the day” and that “the day is not far when they will be making love in public”.

Taking to Facebook yesterday, Mr Ahmed thanked his supporters, posting: “I didn’t guess that a click will give birth to so many stories”.

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