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.'
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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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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