Shahidul Alam 100th day in jail

On the 100th day of incarceration of Bangladeshi photographer Shahidul Alam, 34 prominent South Asians including Arundhati Roy, Shabana Azmi, Amitav Ghosh, Mohammad Hanif, Nepal's former Chief Justice Sushila Karki, among others have signed a letter to Prime Minister Hasina Wazed demanding his immediate release.

The letter states: 'As well-wishers of Bangladesh and supporters of its 166 million citizens’ struggle for dignity, social justice and prosperity, we are distressed by the continued imprisonment of photographer and cultural activist Shahidul Alam.”

The internationally renowned photographer and mentor to many Nepali photojournalists was forcefully taken from his home on 5 August and has been held at Dhaka Central Jail for the last 100 days. He is accused of ‘hurting the image of the nation’ while reporting on protests by young students demanding road safety. He has been denied bail five times.

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The letter notes: 'Shahidul Alam is a Bangladeshi citizen, but the rest of us in South Asia are also proud to call him our own, for the values of truth, justice and social equality he promotes.'

Portrait taken by Shahidul Alam of Nepal's former Chief Justice Sushila Karki for an interview in Nepali Times. Karki was one of the signatories to a joint letterto Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed, demanding his release. Photo: SHAHIDUL ALAM/DRIK.

Other distinguished persons who have joined this appeal include singer/songwriter Moushumi Bhowmik (Kolkata), political scientist Jayadeva Uyangoda (Colombo), poet/critic Sankha Ghosh (Kolkata), historian/writer Ramchandra Guha (Bangalore), photographer Raghu Rai (Delhi), artist Salima Hashmi (Lahore) photographer Dayanita Singh (Delhi), Manjushree Thapa and Kanak Mani dixit (Kathmandu) among others.

The signatories adds: 'It is clear to us that the case of Shahidul Alam is being used as a means to suppress criticism by others in civil society. His arrest and continued detention appear to be manifestation of an intolerant political atmosphere, an attempt to threaten and silence the voice of Bangladeshi citizens.'

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Photo of Arundhati Roy that Shahidul Alam took. Photo: SHAHIDUL ALAM/DRIK.

Full text of letter with list of signatories:

H.E. Sheikh Hasina Wazed 

Prime Minister of Bangladesh 

Prime Minister’s Office 

Dhaka, Bangladesh 

13 November 2018 

Subject: Appeal for release of Shahidul Alam on 100th day in custody 

Your Excellency: As well-wishers of Bangladesh and supporters of its 166 million citizens’ struggle for dignity, social justice and prosperity, we are distressed by the continued imprisonment of photographer and cultural activist Shahidul Alam.

 Since the founding of the nation in 1971, the people of Bangladesh have led by example, fighting poverty, ending social injustices and being standard-bearers of participatory development. This advance has been made possible by the democratic spirit of the people, who have challenged military rulers and autocrats alike. 

As well-wishers of Bangladesh, we fear that these gains are in danger due to the rising political intolerance and denial of fundamental freedoms. Shahidul Alam is a Bangladeshi citizen, but the rest of us in South Asia are also proud to call him our own, for the values of truth, justice and social equality he promotes.

 His work and activism are respected all over our region and beyond, with innumerable friends who admire his concern for the voiceless and marginalised. One example is his latest work highlighting the tragedy of the Rohingya people, who have been given refuge in Bangladesh by your Government. 

Since Shahidul Alam was forcefully taken from his home on the 5th of August, he was remanded first in Detective Branch custody for seven days and, then held at Dhaka Central Jail at Keraniganj. He is accused of ‘hurting the image of the nation’ while reporting on protests by young students demanding road safety. 

It is clear to us that the case of Shahidul Alam is being used as a means to suppress criticism by others in civil society. His arrest and continued detention appear to be manifestation of an intolerant political atmosphere, an attempt to threaten and silence the voice of Bangladeshi citizens. 

With the country preparing for general elections, this is a time when there should be more space for debate and discussion, not less. As believers in the rule of law, we are shocked to learn that government lawyers continue to oppose Shahidul Alam’s release on bail using various stratagems and delays intended to deprive him of his fundamental rights to liberty and due process. Across South Asia, politicians and citizens have fought for the right to speak, and to write, and it is astonishing to us that a government today, especially one which seeks to harness technology for progress, should choose to use a law to proscribe online speech to jail a citizen.

Sincerely,

Akram Khan, London

Amar Kanwar, New Delhi

Amitav Ghosh, Goa

Anish Kapoor, London

Aparna Sen, Kolkata

Arundhati Roy, New Delhi

Ashok Vajpeyi, New Delhi

Buddhadeb Dasgupta, Kolkata

Dayanita Singh, New Delhi

Ina Puri, Kolkata

Jayadeva Uyangoda, Colombo

Kanak Mani Dixit, Kathmandu

Laila Tyabji, New Delhi;

Manjushree Thapa, Toronto

Mohammed Hanif, Karachi

Moushumi Bhowmik, Kolkata

Nandita Das, Kolkata

Nimalka Fernando, Colombo

Patricia Mukhim, Shillong

Pooja Sood, New Delhi

Rachana Singh, New Delhi

Raghu Rai, New Delhi

Rajdeep Sardesai, New Delhi

Ramchandra Guha, Bangalore

Romilla Thapar, New Delhi  

Salima Hashmi, Lahore

Sanjay Kak, New Delhi

Sanjoy Hazarika, Shillong

Sankha Ghosh, Kolkata

Shabana Azmi, Mumbai

Sushila Karki, Kathmandu

Vijay Prashad, New Delhi

Vikram Seth, New Delhi

Vrinda Grover, New Delhi

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