In the midst of our cozy homes, enjoying a cup of tea, it’s easy to overlook the hidden injustices unfolding daily. But picture this: the warmth of the cup fades, the soft bed vanishes, replaced by a cold, unforgiving floor. The familiar room shrinks to a cramped six-by-eight-foot cell shared with seven others, a thought that chills the soul.
In Bangladesh, numerous individuals endure such harsh realities, thrown into condemned cells on possibly wrongful accusations. Some face execution, others succumb to illness, and a fortunate few eventually regain their freedom. Yet, for those liberated souls, is freedom truly theirs? Social death looms, with whispers, suspicion, and stigma shadowing their every step.
Photographer Mostifqur Rahman Johan delves into these unsettling questions through his exhibition “Living on Death Row,” curated by Tanzim Wahab and co-curated by Hadi Uddin. Housed at Drik Gallery, the exhibit sheds light on the narratives of 12 individuals who endured years in condemned cells before their eventual release.
Upon entering the gallery, visitors are met with a stark display of death penalty statistics spanning from 2010 to June 2025, a poignant reminder of the countless lives hanging in uncertainty. The exhibition’s title encapsulates the paradox of existence these individuals face—living while awaiting death.
The photographs capture ordinary moments: individuals with family, resting at home, or strolling down a street, seemingly like any other citizen. Yet, behind each portrait lies a haunting truth—each subject spent years on death row, living in constant fear, savoring each meal as if it were their last. Despite losing years of life, loved ones, and youth, their resilience shines through, a testament to their refusal to succumb to despair.
One poignant portrait features Anwar Hossain, wrongly accused of murder and enduring 14 years in solitary confinement. His captions depict the cruelty within those walls. Another portrait showcases Sheikh Zahid, who recalls the fear of each meal possibly being his last before facing the gallows.
Reflecting on the exhibition’s genesis, Johan revealed, “I began active work in 2022, but the concept had been brewing within me for years, with photography as my chosen medium.” Strongly opposed to the death penalty, Johan believes no one holds the moral authority to determine who lives or dies. His extensive research, reaching out to lawyers, scouring social media, and traversing the country, was aimed at finding these former inmates.
Johan’s aim with “Living on Death Row” is to spark conversations on the justice system and its repercussions. He aims to highlight the lack of accountability for wrongfully imprisoning innocents, advocating for judicial reform and compensation for the unjustly sentenced as a step toward restorative justice.
The exhibition serves as a blend of art and activism, reminding viewers that behind each statistic lies a narrative, a family, a life disrupted. “Living on Death Row” transcends mere photo displays; it serves as a call to witness, remember, and enact change.
The exhibition “Living on Death Row” is currently showcased at Drik Gallery, DrikPath Bhobon, in Panthapath, Dhaka. Supported by the European Union, the Embassy of France in Bangladesh, Drik Picture Library, and The Death Penalty Project, the exhibit commenced on October 10, 2025, and will continue until October 19, 2025, open daily from 3:00pm to 8:00pm.