Media Helping Media informs that Shahidul Alam, internationally renowned photojournalist from Bangladesh, blogger and founder of the Drik picture network has been detained by the Indian border security while working on the Bangladesh side of the border. Updates on this news are being posted in Unheard Voice Blog.
Written byRezwan
1 comment
updates from Drik:
Shahidul Alam under arrest
Last night at 3am on Thursday 17 June, renowned Bangladeshi photojournalist Shahidul Alam telephoned from Rowmari thana to say he had been arrested. A case was filed by SI Amir Ali (0191-401-8992) of Rowmari thana under the Control Entry Act/4,1978 Bangladesh (case number 6, dtd 17.06.2009). Shahidul spent the night in custody at the thana. He is due to appear at court today, Thursday 17 June, and is expected to apply for bail. His camera and phone have been confiscated.
The case follows his arrest, and subsequent 6 hour detention (including interrogation) yesterday, Wednesday 16 June, around 6.10pm, by Indian border guards, BSF, while taking photographs for his Brahamaputra river project, one that encompasses China, Mongolia, Tibet, and India, and has been carried out over several years. While taking photographs in the Bangladeshi side, BSF guards had asked him to come over, and then detained him at Sahapara 21 IPP, across the Memokar Char border, Rowmari, Kurigram
I appeal to all, on behalf of Drik to work for a speedy bail, and no unnecessary harassment.
In solidarity,
rahnuma ahmed