53 eminent persons demand Shahidul Alam release

Country’s 53 eminent personalities on Tuesday demanded release of renowned photographer Shahidul Alam and ensuring rights of all the citizens, reports UNB.

They made the demand in a statement issued under the banner of ‘We are Bangladesh’s Common Citizens’.

Expressing their grave concern, the eminent citizens in the statement said, Shahidul remained imprisoned for over 40 days and he is being deprived of his legal citizen rights.

They said the criticism of the government is now considered to be sedition and the freedom of express and rights of the citizens are being suppressed using the state organisations illegally and misusing the section 57 of the ICT Act.

Mentioning that getting bail is a normal legal right of citizens, renowned personalities said Shahidul deserves this right as a citizen. “So, we demand his immediate and ensuring all citizens’ rights.

The signatories to the statement include emeritus professor Serajul Islam Choudhury, professor Ajoy Roy, professor Anu Muhammad, Sultana Kamal, Khushi Kabir, Shaheen Anam, professor Gitiara Nasreen and Robaet Ferdous.

Detectives arrested Shahidul Alam from his Dhanmondi residence on August 5 and a case was filed against him with Ramna Police Station on August 6. He was also placed on a seven-day remand in the case.

Police claimed that he spread propaganda through his Facebook account during the student movement demanding safe roads which is harmful to the state.

END/UNB/AM