University in calls to free visiting professor
Sunderland University has joined calls for a visiting professor to be freed after he was jailed for “damaging the image” of his home country Bangladesh.
Shahidul Alam was arrested earlier this year after giving an interview, in which he spoke about his country’s government following thenprotests in capital city Dhaka.
The internationally-renowned photographer, photojournalist, and activist has been a friend and visiting Professor of Photography at Sunderland University for a number of years – and this month, the university will support a campaign aimed at raising awareness of his imprisonment.
Nineteen other UK universities, exhibitions spaces and colleges, including the Northern School of Art in Hartlepool, will display Shahidul’s photographic work in an effort to spread his message.
Arabella Plouviez, Professor of Photography and Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Creative Industries at Sunderland University, said: “Shahidul has been a respected colleague and friend since we met in Bangladesh in 1989.
“I have tremendous respect for his use of photography as a peaceful – yet powerful – tool for emancipation and to highlight social injustice.
“Shahidul is calm, driven and unfailingly just – we are concerned for his safety and join his family and many friends in demanding his release from injustice.
“There has already been huge international support for the #freeshahidulalam campaign, which we know Shahidul is aware of and appreciates. We need to keep up the momentum and amplify the voices appealing to the Bangladeshi authorities.”
Sofia Karim, Shahidul’s niece who lives in the UK, added: “After his torture, Shahidul was briefly paraded in public. Unable to walk, he waved to the photographers and said, ‘The camera should be in my hand’. Denied his lens, we must tell the story on his behalf to the best of our ability.”