Sayeed Muhammad: Fo-ur internationally celebrated authors and intellectuals yesterday demanded immediate release of acclaimed photographer Shahidul Alam, who was arrested on Sunday night.
Indian writer Arundhati Roy, Canadian author Naomi Klein, American writer, philosopher Noam Chomsky and Indian intellectual Vijay Prashad made then call through a joint statement, reports New Age. ‘Documentation and criticism are elementary aspects of human life. For a state to deny a citizen the right to say what is happening and to be angered about what is happening is a denial of this basic right,’ it reads. ‘Reports come that Shahidul Alam has been tortured in prison. Reports also come of widespread dismay at the detention of this widely loved photographer and teacher,’ the statement noted. ‘He is, in fact, the recipient of a high honour from the government of Bangladesh – the Shilpakala Padak in 2014. Shahidul Alam was handed this award by the current president of Bangladesh, Abdul Hamid.