The winners of the 2009 international Travel Photographer of the Year photography contest have been announced, and for the first time the overall top prize has been scooped by a Bangladeshi photogapher.

G.M.B. Akash portfolio depicting rail travel in his home country and the ship-breaking industry garnered unanimous praise from the judges. Not only does Akash scoop the title of Travel Photographer of the Year 2009, but Akash also scoops a prize package including an Apple MacBook Pro 13in and a Mountain Paradise trip to Slovakia’s Tatra Mountains.

Entries to the competition were received from nearly 70 different countries, with winners ranging from Australia to the USA.

A full winners list and gallery of winning images can be found at the TPOTY 2009 website.