Staff Reporter :
Two Bangladesh-born British Parliament members Rushnara Ali and Rupa Huq have urged the government to release photographer Shahidul Alam.
Rushnara, Member of Parliament for Bethnal Green and Bow, UK, called upon the government to
recognise Shahidul’s right to free speech and fair treatment.
In a statement, she said, “I have received numerous representations from my constituents, who are friends of Shahidul Alam, seeking assistance following his arrest and calling for his immediate release”.
On the other hand, Rupa Huq, Member of Parliament for Ealing Central and Acton, UK, wrote a letter to Bangladeshi High Commission and UK Foreign Office demanding action to urge the authorities in Bangladesh to drop the case against Shahidul.
“Please exercise the power you wield to urge the authorities in Bangladesh to drop the case against him,” the letter written by Rupa Huq read.
I have written to Bangladeshi High Commission and UK Foreign Office demanding action after constituent-relatives of acclaimed photographer Shahidul Alam had been imprisoned by Bangladesh government for speaking out on student protests in Dhaka at Al Jazeera.
“Of most concern to his family, friends, fellow protestors in Bangladesh and abroad, and myself, is the state in which he appeared in the courtroom,” Rupa Huq said.
Shahidul was picked up by law enforcers from his house in Dhanmondi on August 5, hours after he posted a video on Facebook and participated in an interview with Al Jazeera about the road safety protests in Dhaka.
On August 6, Shahidul was remanded in a case filed under the controversial Section 57 of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Act on charges of “spreading propaganda and false information against the government”.
Shahidul has himself alleged that he was tortured in custody, a claim refuted by police.
Since then, besides local uproar, the international community has been extending support to Shahidul Islam. Journalists from all over the world have been demanding for his release.
Two Bangladesh-born British Parliament members Rushnara Ali and Rupa Huq have urged the government to release photographer Shahidul Alam.
Rushnara, Member of Parliament for Bethnal Green and Bow, UK, called upon the government to
recognise Shahidul’s right to free speech and fair treatment.
In a statement, she said, “I have received numerous representations from my constituents, who are friends of Shahidul Alam, seeking assistance following his arrest and calling for his immediate release”.
On the other hand, Rupa Huq, Member of Parliament for Ealing Central and Acton, UK, wrote a letter to Bangladeshi High Commission and UK Foreign Office demanding action to urge the authorities in Bangladesh to drop the case against Shahidul.
“Please exercise the power you wield to urge the authorities in Bangladesh to drop the case against him,” the letter written by Rupa Huq read.
I have written to Bangladeshi High Commission and UK Foreign Office demanding action after constituent-relatives of acclaimed photographer Shahidul Alam had been imprisoned by Bangladesh government for speaking out on student protests in Dhaka at Al Jazeera.
“Of most concern to his family, friends, fellow protestors in Bangladesh and abroad, and myself, is the state in which he appeared in the courtroom,” Rupa Huq said.
Shahidul was picked up by law enforcers from his house in Dhanmondi on August 5, hours after he posted a video on Facebook and participated in an interview with Al Jazeera about the road safety protests in Dhaka.
On August 6, Shahidul was remanded in a case filed under the controversial Section 57 of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Act on charges of “spreading propaganda and false information against the government”.
Shahidul has himself alleged that he was tortured in custody, a claim refuted by police.
Since then, besides local uproar, the international community has been extending support to Shahidul Islam. Journalists from all over the world have been demanding for his release.
