As we celebrate Women’s History Month, Bangladesh Feminist Archives is highlighting feminists who have broken barriers and reshaped history. Throughout this month, we will honor those who have challenged power, fought for justice, and redefined possibilities.
Taslima Akhter is a photographer, activist, and labor rights leader whose work documents the struggles of garment workers in Bangladesh. Through her powerful imagery, she exposes labor exploitation, gender injustice, and corporate negligence. Her work is more than photography—it is resistance.
Her photograph “Final Embrace,” taken after the Rana Plaza collapse in 2013, became a global symbol of the human cost of fast fashion. It won the World Press Photo Award and was listed among Time Magazine’s Top 10 Photos of the Year, bringing international attention to the plight of garment workers.
Beyond photography, Taslima is the President of Bangladesh Garment Sramik Samhati, advocating for fair wages, safe working conditions, and labor rights. Despite crackdowns, she continues to fight against the exploitation of workers.
In recognition of her activism, Taslima Akhter received the Begum Rokeya Padak in 2024, one of Bangladesh’s highest honors for contributions to women’s empowerment.
Photography is resistance. Taslima Akhter ensures that the struggles of workers are seen, their voices heard, and their fight for justice remembered.
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Bangladesh Feminist Archives 