Drik organizes Shahidul's photo exhibition
Drik has organized a photography exhibition at Drik Gallery, 'A Struggle for Democracy' by Shahidul Alam, the internationally renowned photographer, academic, activist and founder of Drik and Pathshala South Asian Media Institute.
The exhibition was inaugurated on Tuesday 6 pm, at Drik Gallery, Dhanmondi, Dhaka, and will be available for viewing till September 10, 2018, everyday from 3-8pm. The exhibition is curated by ASM Rezaur Rahman.
According to the Drik press statement, the exhibition is arranged to protest the photographer's imprisonment and also to commemorate September 4, the day Drik started its journey in 1989. Teacher and activist, Professor Anu Muhammad, Human rights activist Khushi Kabir, and Professor Meghna Guhathakurta, inaugurated the exhibition.
The other speakers at the inauguration were Junayed Saki, Shahidul Alam's partner, writer, and columnist Rahnuma Ahmed, Barrister JotirmoyBarua, and Curator and General Manager of Drik, ASM Rezaur Rahman.
During the event, Professor Anu Muhammad commented: "I had a small hope; maybe Shahidul will be with us today. However, when I heard that the High court bench was embarrassed; to me it meant either they are not doing their work properly or they cannot do their work properly. Looking at the current state, it seems Shahidul is the biggest threat to the Government.
And therefore, they tried to silence him and imprisoned him. Shahidul's exhibition will speak for him. If the Govt. is trying to silence us, let's raise our voices more. If the Govt. tries to move us apart, let's be more united. We demand release for Shahidul and all the students; we want the Government to control the ongoing disappearances, murders, and crime."
Ms. Khushi Kabir in her speech stated: "We all are here today for one reason, same cause of protesting - Shahidul is close to us. Putting him in jail, is like putting us in jail.
When law enforcement agencies fail to protect us, we go to court. But when the court itself is embarrassed - there should be either some personal reason or conflict of interest. We need to raise our voices as loud as we can and protest altogether."
Professor Meghna Guhathakurta mentioned: "We have all gathered here in solidarity demanding Shahidul's release. This solidarity is made of relationships, cultural networking, and fighting for the same cause.
The charges against Shahidul - none are true. It is evident from his life, his works, and his commitment towards the truth. There is no place or event, where he did not speak for democracy.
