Salil Tripathi, Chair of PEN International’s Writers in Prison Committee said that the photographer's work and life should be celebrated and emulated and not limit to a prison.

The Bangladeshi authorities must release Shahidul Alam immediately, institute an inquiry into the injuries he has suffered, and why the officials responsible for action attempted to prevent evidence of their conduct being recorded, given the reports of how closed circuit camera at the building entrance was taped up and the footage taken away. The government must also establish new norms for security forces to act proportionately and with due regard to the law and within the limits placed by the law. Furthermore, they must change laws that allow the state to make such whimsical attacks on freedom of expression. Shahidul's work and life are to be celebrated and emulated, not restricted.

-Salil Tripathi, Chair of PEN International’s Writers in Prison Committee

Alam was arrested on Aug 5. Several reports suggested that while in prison, he was subjected to torture from authorities.

"The late night detention of Shahidul Alam in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on 5 Aug is outrageous and he must be released immediately. Shahidul is a distinguished photographer, writer, artist, and human rights activist, who has done more to tell the stories of the underprivileged, marginalised, dispossessed, vulnerable, and abused in Bangladesh and beyond, than many who have held elected offices.

"Shahidul was taken away because in a few posts on social media, he has been vocal and critical of the government's human rights record. For exercising those legitimate rights, he is being punished," Tripathi said.

Alam is a renowned photographer, who is also the recipient of  2018's Lucie Award. The award committee bestowed it to him in acknowledgement of his exceptional contribution to photography and society.

Echoing Tripathi's sentiments, the Editor's guild of India too condemned the detention.

"The Editors Guild of India is also pained and agitated to learn of the detention of Shahidul Alam, eminent photographer and educator, in Dhaka under the provisions of the Information and Communication Technology Act of Bangladesh. The Guild understands that Mr Alam’s detention is arbitrary and unreasonable. Highlighting the peaceful protests by school children and young people in Dhaka against the malpractices in the transport sector, resulting in deaths, is not a crime. The Guild stands behind Mr Alam and demands his immediate and unconditional release from detention," the EGI statement read.

Alam, who is presently undergoing treatment in a hospital in Dhaka, found support from Indian photographer of international acclaim Raghu Rai, who urged the Bangladeshi Prime Minister to release the detainee.

Rai who was honoured as a Friend of Bangladesh by the government in 2012 for his depiction of the War of Liberation, has said in his letter that his heart bleeds over the "arrest and torturing" of acclaimed photographer Shahidul Alam.

Rai described Alam as "a great admirer of country’s founder president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and one of those rare breeds committed to truth and honesty, who can die for Bangladesh."

Image: Screengrab from YouTube