Saiful Huq Omi having Andrew Biraj as the co-founder on November 23, 2012 founded the department of photography at Counter Foto. Din M Shibly was the first Head of Academics of the department who served until July 2015.
For the last one-decade or so, Bangladesh has been contributing significantly in the world of photography. Though much has been achieved already, Bangladesh needed a photography institution at Counter Foto for catering unique photographic education not only in Bangladesh but also for other parts in Asia.
On top of everything, Counter Foto has always felt that, photography needs to be taught in a different way; it has to be indigenous having a deep social, political and cultural root in our own society, which enables the student to question themselves as well as the prevailing western notions. In that sense Counter Foto has created a niche space for the photographers since from its inception.
Counter Foto aims at setting a benchmark in educating to become a good photographer. Counter Foto strongly believes that it will become one of the major platform of all the photo-enthusiasts who are not only trying photography for pleasure but also use it as a weapon to change society for good.