Internationally respected photographer, activist, journalist, founder and Managing Director of the Bangladesh multimedia company, Drik, founder of Chobi Mela International Photography Festival and Pathshala South Asian Media Institute, Shahidul is a long-term collaborator and friend of NEPN and visiting professor of the Northern Centre of Photography at the University of Sunderland. The department, NEPN and its forerunner IPRN, have worked with Shahidul for 20 years on numerous projects, most recently on a presentation of his exhibition ‘Kalpana’s Warriors’ in partnership with Breeze Creatives last December 2017-January 2018, during the Freedom City Festival.
Shahidul is currently being held as a prisoner of conscience in police custody in Dhaka, Bangladesh, following his arrest for exercising his right to freedom of expression. If found guilty, the authorities have warned Shahidul could face up to 14 years imprisonment.
Amnesty International have called for Shahidul’s ‘immediate and unconditional release’ and have issued an Urgent Action Call: www.amnesty.org.uk/actions/free-shahidul-alam
There is also a petition here: https://www.change.org/p/dhaka-metropolitan-police-release-shahidul-alam-now
#FreeShahidulAlam