PEN International and Editors' Guild of India condemns celebrated Bangladeshi photographer Shahidul Alam's arrest, demand immediate release

In a statement, Salil Tripathi, Chair of PEN International’s Writers in Prison Committee also described Alam's detention as "outrageous" and called on the Bangladeshi authorities to ensure his wellbeing and that he is not subjected to ill-treatment while in detention.

The statement said,  “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,” continued Tripathi.

In another statement, the  Editors Guild of India said it was "pained and agitated" to learn of the detention of Shahidul Alam 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" it said.

Alam, an award-winning photographer,  was arrested at his home by plainclothes police officers in the evening of  August five in the wake of his commentary made both on social media and in interviews regarding student protests currently taking place in Dhaka.

A police official reportedly stated that Alam was being investigated for “giving false information to different media and for provocative comments.”

On his way to the lower court – where he is expected to be charged under Section 57 of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Act – Alam reportedly stated that he was beaten while in custody.

On Wednesday, Alam was shifted to the hospital for treatment, media reports said quoting officials.

A medical board was formed for his treatment.

Earlier, on Tuesday, a High Court Division had directed the Government and the inspector general of the police to immediately ensure health examination and treatment of the detained photographer at the BSMMU.

According to media reports, a case has been filed against him under Information and Communication Technology Act. He has been in a seven-day police remand.

Meanwhile, Raghu Rai, another internationally famed photographer, has also urged Prime Minister  Sheikh Hasina to release Alam and  ‘not to teach’ the agitating boys a lesson.

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."