Shahidul wins Lucie Humanitarian Award in NY

Internationally renowned Bangladeshi photographer, academic and social activist Shahidul Alam has been awarded Lucie Humanitarian Award, 2018, reports UNB.

He was honoured with the award for his extraordinary contribution in photography, and society, said a press release.

Columbia University professor and renowned scholar Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak received the award on behalf of Shahidul at Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall in New York.

In a press release issued by the Lucie Foundation, it stated, "On 28th October 2018 evening, New York hosted the 16th Annual Lucie Awards in a gala black-tie ceremony and awards program, at Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall. The Lucies - the world's most esteemed photography awards ceremony, honored the greatest achievements in the field - presented awards ranging from Achievement in Fine Art and Documentary, to Achievements in industry support categories, including Photojournalism and Advertising."

Shahidul Alam, also Chairman of Pathshala South Asian Media Institute, was arrested from his Dhanmondi residence on 5 August and then sent to jail allegedly for spreading propaganda through his Facebook account during the student movement demanding safe roads.

Lucie Foundation, in its website termed Shahidul’s arrest as “an egregious violation of rights, a dangerous precedent and a grave threat to journalists everywhere”.

“Not only do we demand the immediate release of Shahidul, we stand as a united front against these kinds of attacks to journalism wherever they arise in the world,” reads the description of Shahidul given on the website of the foundation.