Bangladeshi photographer and social activist Shahidul Alam has been imprisoned for over 70 days following his arrest at his Dhaka home on August 5, sparking international concern and protests from the photography community. About sixty photographers gathered at the base of the Raju memorial sculpture near Dhaka University's TSC last Tuesday to demand his immediate release, according to reports from the Dhaka Tribune.
Addressing the demonstration, photographer Munira Morshed Munni emphasized the injustice of Alam's detention. "Shahidul Alam has already been imprisoned for 70 days, merely for expressing his views. We demand his immediate release," she stated. The protest highlights growing concerns about freedom of expression and the treatment of activists in Bangladesh.
Alam's significance in the photography world extends far beyond his activism. Renowned photography editor John G. Morris has praised Alam's work extensively, describing his book "My Journey as a Witness" as "the most remarkable book by a single photographer since a messenger brought me a first copy of The Decisive Moment by Henri Cartier-Bresson in 1952." Morris suggests that while the two books shouldn't be directly compared, Alam's work could prove equally influential for entirely different reasons.
Unlike Cartier-Bresson's "The Decisive Moment," which Morris credits as the first book to articulate the philosophy of photojournalism, Alam's work takes a more confrontational approach. Morris describes "My Journey as a Witness" as "an angry book, deliberately provocative" that "will break your heart." The book combines beautiful, meaningful images with compelling narrative text that demands to be read.
Alam's unique perspective stems from his dual experience of East and West. Although educated in Western institutions, he remains fundamentally "a man of the East." As a teenager, he witnessed the 1971 war that led to Bangladesh's independence, an experience that profoundly shaped his worldview and photographic mission. His career began briefly in London but has since expanded to encompass global issues and perspectives.
The photographer's central mission involves challenging Western-dominated narratives in photojournalism. His passion focuses on showing ordinary people "as they truly live and work, not as they are seen by what he calls the dominant cultures of the West." Alam believes that most people worldwide are being misrepresented or ignored by mainstream media, and he sees photojournalists as having the power to correct this imbalance.
To advance his vision, Alam has created several influential institutions and platforms. He founded Drik (meaning "Vision") in Bangladesh, an agency dedicated to promoting authentic representation. He also established the website banglarights.com and the brand MajorityWorld.com, both aimed at amplifying voices from the Global South. Additionally, he founded Pathshala, recognized as the first South Asian school of photography, which sponsors biennial international meetings similar to those held in Perpignan.
Alam's ambitions extend beyond photography into broader social and political transformation. He passionately advocates for what he calls "true world government" - governance by the majority of all peoples rather than dominance by superpowers. Morris notes his agreement with much of what Alam proposes, encouraging readers to "read the book and decide for yourself."
The book "My Journey as a Witness" was published by Skira and edited by Rosa Maria Falvo, with an introduction by renowned photographer Sebastião Salgado and a preface by Raghu Rai. The hardcover edition spans 224 pages with dimensions of 9.8 x 1 x 11.3 inches. As Alam remains imprisoned, his work continues to inspire discussions about the role of photography in social justice and the importance of protecting artistic freedom of expression.
