Dhee

Dhee is the first of its kind to tell the story from the perspective of a lesbian woman in Bangladesh. Taking the form of a comic strip but in flashcard form Dhee charts her life as a woman to inform readers on gender and sexuality including issues of predominate heteronormative values. The comic was published in September 2015 as part of a wider project by Boys of Bangladesh to form dialogue on gender equality and LGBT issues in Bangladesh.

Boys of Bangladesh (established 2002), popularly abbreviated BoB (formerly known as Boys Only Bangladesh), is the oldest running and the largest network of self-identified Bangladeshi gay men living in the country and abroad. Based in Dhaka, this non-registered, non-funded and non-formal group is run by a pool of volunteers working towards a mission to eliminate all kinds discrimination and violence against LGBT persons and an inclusive and just society. Aware that the LGBT movement is often male dominated BoB created the flashcard comic DHEE focusing on a female character to raise awareness on gender and LGBT issues in Bangladesh. The comic strip was released in 2015 as an advocacy material for Project Dhee, a 14-month program promoting dialogue on gender and sexuality, which included workshops, interactive sessions, audio and videos.

This work features in Mangasia: Wonderlands of Asian Comics, a Barbican International Enterprises exhibition, curated by Paul Gravett. Mangasia presents a vivid journey through the art of Comics and visual storytelling across Asia. From its historical roots to the most recent digital innovations, the exhibition looks to popular Japanese ‘Manga’ and beyond, highlighting key creators, characters and publications.