"My Bangladesh Tales": News and Reviews

"That’s the thing about books. They let you travel without moving your feet." –Jhumpa Lahiri

"My Bangladesh Tales" allows the above quote with adventure in a country that we have never known in detail.

The book of Stefano Romano has never been disappointed. He takes you traveling into an amazing landscape, culture, faces, people, races, and religion.

A travelog book that presents broad knowledge, not just about the culture of the local community, but also rich in photography knowledge as well as interesting philosophy.

Even though the writer is not Bangladeshi, but every inch of things is written clearly and touches the heart.

I was very interested in his story that opened the shoes to enter one of the houses in the slum area. 

He said,

"I always carry with me: it doesn't matter where you are, how poor and dirty the house is, but in some countries taking off your shoes is a sign of respect and kings like outcasts of the earth must be respected. Barefoot, we are all the same."

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His experience at Cox's Bazar, the Rohingya refugee camp was also interesting. Portrait pictures of women, children, doctors, volunteers, and life in camps open our eyes about the sense of humanity.

Chapters of "Tasnuva and Tahera" and "The Little Princess" highlight his side as a person who loves children. The photos are so lovely with beautiful words.

The story of the slum in the railway station and the dilapidated buildings touched my heart. Not only that, the first chapter title One Day In Tejgoan make me cry.

Pictures of a long-lined rickshaw during heavy traffic serve an impressive view of the eyes.

The chapter about National Day celebrations as well as the history of their nation's struggle to fight for the Bangla language is so inspiring.

The highlighted portraits also have a strong aura. You must be fascinated by the colors, compositions, and stories of the photos.

I love this book because it also brings a lesson of hope and love told through beautiful words and incredible photos.

Congratulations Stefano Romano. You are not only a great photographer, but also an amazing storyteller in your own style.

Highly recommended!

Best.

Faizah Ahmad (Cik Pae)
Selangor, Malaysia.

My Bangladesh Tales is now also available on Amazon. Click on this link to order.

"My Bangladesh Tales by famous Italian journalist Stefano Romano recently published and released in Rome. It’s my great pleasure to write the foreword of this publication." (Akbar Haider Kiron, 20 March 2021)

Here is an excerpt from the "Foreword" by Akbar Haider Kiron (New York Correspondent for Voice of America, and Director of News for BanglaTV New York):

It is usual that a guest will discover some extra color and beauty in my garden to narrate with pleasure and it also happened in the case of an Italian photographer, Stefano Romano.

Our Golden Bangladesh is always rich in color, culture, and history. We can discover only a few of those features because we live here. If any conscious person comes from another land, he/she can see much more varieties than that of us.

Photographer Mr. Stefano noticed and snapped some of the pictures of our social fabric and his pictures with write-ups depicted those nicely in this book.

Click here to order the book

"We may have different religions, different languages, different colored skin, but we all belong to one human race." -Kofi Annan

Bengali people have long-established in Malaysia. They have been involved in commercial industries in the Sultanate of Malacca since the 15th century. 

My knowledge of Bangladeshi's is very little. In addition to cricket, Sundarban Mangrove Park, the film “Made in Bangladesh", "Dhaka Attack" and "Agnee" as well as the 3rd largest clothing manufacturer in the world. That’s all.

Looking at their activities in the fields of plantation, business, construction, and so on intrigued me to know more deeply.

The world is fast becoming a "global village". Understanding different people is not only critical but also promotes ample coexistence.

There are different ways to know new people.

Again, after "My Malaysian Tales", my photography teacher has caught my eyes with his Bangladeshi flag “green” book.

Very educative. I got more than I expected from this book. 

Still bring up the great photos and analyze important considerations that touch upon voyeurism, ethics in photojournalism and street, "rickshaw" and "spatial" photography related to local and refugee on his spectacle.

This book serves as a meditation of sorts of philosophy,  psychology, and principles of photography. We will respond to the image and colors and it challenges the reader to consider the photography process/rules.

"Every photograph is a question."

It's an esoterically written long-form essay. It took 3 days to finish reading. But this book 

answers my question with meaningful terms like "punctum".

He teaches us a "definition of light", "keep in memory", "keep a step back" and so on. So that "Colors don't cry" - Cesare Pavese.

No one is born with knowledge implanted in their brains same as me– every skill has to be learned. The same goes for techniques and rules of photography.

His skill shows a magical landscape, emotional portraits, mysterious city shots, and faces.

After closing this book, l feel, in photography, there are no rules. These are mere guidelines and words of advice for the beginner but to grow as an artist or writer, we must eventually break them and look for something new.

Never be afraid to have fun and experiment. After all, that is what art is all about! And we can close our eyes smoothly like roses close its petal. Beautiful.

Thanks for his dedication and great appreciation of people and their cultures. 

Don't miss it. Get his book now at lulu.com. 

"It is not so much how we see the world that is important, but it's how we relate intimately to it that matters" (page 132).

(Norbaini Dolbakkri.  Kuala Lumpur,  Malaysia. 7 March 2021)