Arundhati Roy, Aparna Sen, Romilla Thapar, Amitav Ghosh, Shabhana Azmi, Buddhadeb Dasgupta, Nandita Das, Mohammad Hanif, Anish Kapoor among other eminent persons from across South Asia have come together to write a letter to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed demanding the immediate release of acclaimed photographer and cultural activist Shahidul Alam on the 100th day of his detention.
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.”
Alam was forcefully taken from his home on 5th 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 5 times.
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), Former Nepal Chief Justice Sushila Karki (Kathmandu), 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) among others.
The signatories state further: “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.”
The letter comes on the 100th Day of Shahidul Alam’s imprisonment.
The full text of the letter has been reproduced below:
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.
Prime Minister, we the undersigned urge you to ensure the release of Shahidul Alam on this, the 100th day of his detention. We look forward to Bangladesh retaining its place as an exemplar of participatory democracy in South Asia.
Sincerely,
List of signatories:
- 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
- Vrinda Grover, New Delhi
- Vikram Seth
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