Shanakht
My project ‘Shanakht’ began as a personal quest to understand the 1971 war and the lived realities of those who came to Pakistan after the independence of Bangladesh. According to estimates, 3 million Bengalis are living in Pakistan and contributing to diverse sectors of the Pakistani economy, however, they continue to be socially and culturally excluded. Regardless of the birthright laws of our state, they are deprived of citizenship which creates hurdles in their access to basic human rights such as education, health, jobs, and voting. My thesis aims to retell the narratives of the people living in East Pakistan (Bangladesh) during the 1971 war and recounts the current struggles faced by Bengalis as a consequence of being stateless in Pakistan.
Areeba Aslam
Communication Design
Shanakht
My project ‘Shanakht’ began as a personal quest to understand the 1971 war and the lived realities of those who came to Pakistan after the independence of Bangladesh. According to estimates, 3 million Bengalis are living in Pakistan and contributing to diverse sectors of the Pakistani economy, however, they continue to be socially and culturally excluded. Regardless of the birthright laws of our state, they are deprived of citizenship which creates hurdles in their access to basic human rights such as education, health, jobs, and voting. My thesis aims to retell the narratives of the people living in East Pakistan (Bangladesh) during the 1971 war and recounts the current struggles faced by Bengalis as a consequence of being stateless in Pakistan.
