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Investigating the Bengalis of Pakistan
- Abiha
- Pakistan
- February 1, 2026
Situation
Following the secession of Bangladesh, millions of Bengalis migrated to Pakistan. Decades later, many remain stateless, unable to access identity documents, education, or formal employment. Entire generations continue to face systemic exclusion, with most families confined to informal labour and precarious living conditions.
Assignment
As part of the Recovering Ethnicities course, the project aimed to foreground the struggles and cultural life of this overlooked community—bringing visibility to stateless residents and fostering public empathy through rigorous documentation and storytelling.
Approach
Historical research was paired with fieldwork in Bengali Para, one of Karachi’s largest Bengali settlements. Time spent with residents—especially women and young girls—surfaced stories of resilience amid chronic marginalisation. Conversations, observations, and lived experiences informed a grounded narrative on identity, labour, and belonging.
Result
A photo series and journalistic piece illuminated the intergenerational impacts of statelessness: persistent poverty, exclusion from schools and formal work, and promising students forced into domestic labour. The work highlighted a community deeply rooted in the city yet continually denied recognition and rights.