Wrong photos of six litterateurs in DUCSU museum, changed after criticism

Allegations have been raised of using wrong photos next to the names of six litterateurs in the exhibition titled ‘A part of the renowned poets-litterateurs of Dhaka University’ at the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) museum. No match was found between most of the displayed photos and the actual faces of the concerned litterateurs. After criticism started on social media and in educational circles over the matter, DUCSU authorities removed the photos and attached new ones on Thursday (September 17).

On verification it was found that the photos used in the names of Polli Kobi Jasimuddin, former teacher of the Bangla Department of Dhaka University Shaheed Munier Chowdhury, former president of Bangla Academy Abul Kasem Fazlul Haque and poet Asad Chowdhury do not match their actual photos. The photo next to the name of former vice-chancellor of Chittagong University Abul Fazal is also not his, concerned persons have informed. However, some match has been found between the photo of linguist Muhammad Enamul Haque on the list and his face.

Professor of the Bangla Department of Dhaka University Tariq Manzur informed the media that the photos used in the names of Jasimuddin, Munier Chowdhury, Abul Kasem Fazlul Haque and Asad Chowdhury are not of any of them. He also commented that the photo next to the name of Abul Fazal is not his either. According to him, only the photo of Muhammad Enamul Haque on the list has some match with his face.

Professor Tariq Manzur’s assumption is that the photos used in the exhibition may have been altered through artificial intelligence. He also raised questions about the list of litterateurs alongside the photos. In his opinion, the list made under the title ‘A part of the renowned poets-litterateurs’ is largely incomplete. Although it is not possible to place everyone of such a large list on one wall, more caution was needed in selecting specific few persons and displaying the photos.

Regarding the use of wrong and misleading photos, it has been said on behalf of DUCSU that the photos were collected from the internet. However, while increasing the visual quality or qualitative standard of the photos during the preparation of the design, the faces of several photos got changed.

DUCSU’s Liberation War and Democratic Movement Affairs Secretary Fatima Tasnim Juma told the media that after giving the photos to the designer, two-three photos became of the same type while increasing the qualitative standard. She informed that the photos also underwent such changes as are seen in the case of using AI.

However, Fatima Tasnim Juma denied the question of whether the photos were directly created with artificial intelligence. She said all the photos were taken from the internet. This type of problem was created while improving the quality of the photos.

She also informed that quick measures were taken after the matter came to notice. According to her, the matter did not come to notice at first as there were many photos together. Later after she saw the matter and informed the designer, new photos were sent. The new photos were printed and attached at the museum on Thursday.