Conditions were challenging for journalists trying to cover the latest political turbulence in Bangladesh, even beyond the tear gas and bullets flying.
Hundreds of thousands of people were demanding justice for more than 200 who had been killed in protests that had begun with students asking for an end to a quota system for government jobs. The protests morphed into an unprecedented uprising against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Amid attacks from both the protesters and security forces, journalists also had to contend with disrupted internet and mobile networks as they sought to cover the story. And it was all happening at dizzying speed, with things coming to a head when protesters decided to go ahead with a march despite a military curfew and violence that had killed another 100 over the preceding weekend.
AP teams in Dhaka and Delhi mobilized quickly and were ready with prep in all formats as news broke of Hasina fleeing the country and the army taking over in the interim. They pushed numerous alerts that kept global audiences hooked, while working on profiles, explainers and analysis to provide context.
Correspondent Julhas Alam, video journalist Al-Emrun Garjon and freelance photographer Rajib Dhar in Dhaka worked closely with Krutika Pathi, Shonal Ganguly and photo editors in India to help with filing and editing. International desk editors, the Top Stories Hub and the digital production and curation teams provided critical and timely support, including David Cohen and Sarah DiLorenzo.
Live coverage by Garjon and compelling images by Rajib helped deliver some of the most defining visuals of the dramatic finale to Hasina’s rule.
The Best of the Week judges found the quality and breadth of the visuals compelling, along with the relentless coverage that delivered high-quality enterprise work so quickly after big spot news. One judge also highlighted the close coordination between Dhaka and Delhi that allowed all of it to move seamlessly despite all the challenges on the ground.
For the incredible volume and quality of work they delivered despite challenging conditions, Alam, Garjon, Dhar, Pathi and Ganguly earn this week’s Best of AP — First Winner.
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Honorable Mentions
