Mosfiqur Rahman Johan is an anthropologist and documentary photographer, born in Bangladesh in 1997. He has a passion for documenting humanitarian issues, environmental concerns, and socio- political events. Over the years, Johan has traveled extensively throughout Bangladesh to capture compelling visual narratives that raise awareness about social issues and shed light on lesser-known stories that deserve attention. Johan study anthropology to deepen his understanding of the complex issues he documents. There, he honed his skills in ethnography and research-based documentary techniques, which have helped him to better capture the nuances and complexities of the cultures and societies he photographs. Johan’s artistic approach merges with long-term immersion, where he actively engage as a participant observer, close contact with the subjects and systematic repetition eschews non facile interpretations to convey layered, sensitive and sometimes contradictory observations on complex issues such as enforced disappearance, death penalty, police brutality, forceful displacement and environmental issues. By exploring the memories of interlocutors, he explores the themes of resistance and resilience– overlooked, yet so important shaping the narrative of the larger socio-political context. Through narrative-driven documentation, he aims to portray the complexities of social dynamics and cultural identities, challenging perceptions and old discourse of state violence, securitization, gender subjectivity and policing also on forceful displacement , development discourse and environmental issues . Johan also explore a visual journal that delves into the profound psychological impact of losing one’s space and belongings. Through his work, he strive to connect the fragmented memories and fading realities with the broader world, seeking solace and understanding in the shared human experience. His visual narrative is an exploration of loss, memory, and the unyielding passage of time, as he navigate the delicate balance between life and nothing more. Johan’s works have been awarded, exhibited, and featured in different international media and platforms around the world.
Mosfiqur Rahman Johan
Memories of Disappearance
“Memories of Disappearance” examines the rise of enforced disappearances in Bangladesh since 2012, situating it within broader contexts of state violence, political control, and the enduring trauma of state- sanctioned erasure. The state’s security apparatus, particularly the police and the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), has systematically adopted militarized strategies aimed at suppressing political dissent and controlling opposition. These practices have led to the forced disappearance and extrajudicial killing of thousands of activists, journalists, students, and dissidents, with over 3,000 cases documented between 2009 and 2022. The July Uprising in Bangladesh and the subsequent revolution have brought these issues into sharper focus, particularly as individuals once detained in secret facilities began to emerge, bearing testimony to the harrowing conditions of their captivity and the state’s tactics of suppression. Their stories provide crucial insights into the operations of clandestine detention centers, further illuminating the systemic nature of these enforced disappearances.
Enforced disappearances leave profound psychological, social, and political scars. Victims who survive detention recount experiences of isolation, torture, and dehumanization, while families—especially mothers, wives, and children—are left in perpetual limbo, caught between hope and despair. For these families, the lack of closure is an unending torment. Ritualized gestures, such as an elderly mother leaving her door unlocked every night in the hope of her son’s return, signify a silent form of resistance against state-sanctioned erasure. These quiet acts challenge the state’s narrative, asserting the continued existence and memory of the disappeared.
The aftermath of the July Uprising offers a unique lens through which to explore these dynamics. As political prisoners were released or escaped from secret detention centers, they brought with them stories of survival and resilience, providing critical evidence of the state’s repressive mechanisms. These narratives have reignited public discourse on state accountability, human rights, and the need for justice in post-revolution Bangladesh.
Globally, enforced disappearances are a hallmark of authoritarian regimes, used to stifle dissent and instill fear, as seen in Argentina, Chile, Kashmir, and Sri Lanka. In Bangladesh, these disappearances not only neutralize political opposition but also create a pervasive climate of fear that deters broader resistance. My project seeks to explore the gendered dimensions of the trauma wrought by enforced disappearances and the quiet, everyday forms of resistance that emerge in response. By analyzing the lived experiences of victims and their families, I aim to contribute to broader discourses on state violence, human rights, and the politics of memory. Additionally, I consider the role of archival work and advocacy in preserving these narratives, ensuring that the disappeared are not erased from history and that justice remains a possibility.