Media Helping Media

Photojournalist detained on Indian border

Published on Tuesday, 16 June 2009

Written by David Brewer

  

Reports from [[Bangladesh]] say that Shahidul Alam, the photojournalist, blogger and founder of the Drik picture network is being interrogated after being detained by Indian border security forces while working on the [[Bangladesh]] side of the border.

In a message to this site from Dhaka, Alam’s partner says he was working on a multimedia project about the Brahmaputra river with two colleagues when border guards took him away.

 

There were fears for Alam’s safety, but supporters now understand he may be released today or tomorrow.

The last message from Shahidul Alam came through at 18:21 on Tuesday 16 June when he called home to say that border security guards had asked him to come over to the Indian side where they detained him at Sahapara 21 IPP, across the border from Rowmari.

 

At the time Alam was working on the Bangladesh end of the river [[Brahmaputra]] project. He had travelled to [[Kurigram]] with two Drik colleagues to take photos, video and stills.

 

 

Contact has been made with a number of local and international media organisations and government officials, including the Indian High Commission.

 

Please feel free to forward this article to anyone who you feel may be able help. Updates will be posted here and on the Unheard Voices blog.

 

UPDATE:  Reports from the area say that Shahidul Alam has been taken to the Kamakhyaguri outpost in Dhubri where he is well and is expected to be released tonight or tomorrow morning.

 

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