In the wake of Sheikh Hasina's dramatic ouster on the 5th of August, Dhaka, the teeming heart of Bangladesh, has become an unexpected canvas for an outpouring of youthful creativity.
The capital’s walls, once mere bystanders to the relentless march of political turbulence, have been adorned with a new language—one of resistance, hope, and unbridled expression.
Photo: BFirst/Noor-A-Alam
Students, the perennial vanguards of societal change, have harnessed the age-old arts of calligraphy and graffiti to inscribe their messages in a city that has long been a silent witness to autocracy.
The ousting of Sheikh Hasina, a leader whose 15-year-long rule had grown increasingly despotic, marked a watershed moment in the history of Bangladesh.
Photo: BFirst/Noor-A-Alam
Her abrupt departure from the country, following a public uprising that can only be described as seismic, has left a vacuum not only in the political landscape but also in the very psyche of the nation.
The youth of Dhaka, inheritors of a legacy of protest and rebellion, have taken it upon themselves to fill this void with their voices—albeit through ink and spray paint.
Photo: BFirst/Noor-A-Alam
Calligraphy, an art form steeped in tradition, has found a new purpose on the city’s walls.
The elegant, flowing scripts, once confined to the pages of religious texts and scholarly works, now proclaim slogans of liberty and democracy.
Photo: BFirst/Noor-A-Alam
Each stroke of the brush or pen seems to carry the weight of history, evoking the spirit of past movements that shaped the nation.
These calligraphic inscriptions, often executed with a finesse that belies their urgency, have transformed Dhaka’s streets into a living testament to the power of words.
Photo: BFirst/Noor-A-Alam
Alongside these delicate scripts, graffiti—raw, vibrant, and unrestrained—has emerged as the voice of a generation that refuses to be silenced.
The walls and roads of Dhaka are now splattered with bold colours and striking images, each telling a story of defiance against tyranny.
Photo: BFirst/Noor-A-Alam
Graffiti, once dismissed as mere vandalism, has evolved into a potent form of political expression, reflecting the frustrations and aspirations of people who have long been denied a platform.
Photo: BFirst/Noor-A-Alam
The imagery is as varied as the voices it represents.
Some murals depict Sheikh Hasina in caricature, a once formidable figure reduced to a symbol of what the people have rejected.
Photo: BFirst/Noor-A-Alam
Others portray scenes of hope—doves taking flight, chains breaking, and hands clasped in solidarity.
The streets have become a visual archive of the nation’s collective consciousness, capturing the zeitgeist in a way that words alone cannot.
