This is not a holiday photograph…

Facebook buzzed yesterday morning after the arrest of Shahidul Alam: Photographer, Writer, Managing Director of DRIK Gallery and Chairman of PATHSHALA South Asian Media Institute. Also the force behind CHOBI MELA  the yearly International Photography festival in DHAKA.

He was interviewed by Al Jazeera in English Sunday August 5th 2018 following the violent clashes as authorities fired tear gas and shut down mobile internet connections after a week of students protest that brought thousands to the streets following the death of two students killed by a speeding bus.

All last week Shahidul had put up pictures and posted a video on facebook about the protest in the city.

 In The Al Jazeera interview he talked about the political, ethical problems of Bangla Desh in a very free, clear, intelligent way , The same evening It seems that about 35 T0 40 people came to arrest him at his home .

I met Shahidul in 1994 and we have been friends since, at a world press photo judging in Amsterdam,I found him to be very open, generous. A man of many talents his writing is insightful, he is a great talker with a captivating deep voice, a good photographer and journalist, with an amazing power to gather the energies of people from the world of photography and beyond as much in Europe, and the americas than on the Indian subcontinent.

Help Free Shahidul.

Sylvie Rebbot.