Media Helping Media

Shahidul Alam, the photojournalist, blogger and founder of the Drik picture network has been released by Indian border police after being detained and interrogated. He was working on the Bangladesh side of the border on a multimedia project about the Brahmaputra river with two colleagues when Indian border guards called him over and took him away.

There were fears for Alam’s safety, but friends successfully campaigned online for his release.

Before his mobile phone was confiscated Alam had called Rahnuma Ahmed, his partner in Dhaka, 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.

Lt Col Mizan, commanding officer of Six Rifles Battalion, based at Jamalpur, appealed for his release after being contacted by supporters.

"I have spoken to my counterpart in India and I have requested Shahidul Alam's release by tonight. Usually, hand overs do not take place at night, but he is a journalist, and my counterpart has agreed to hand him over tonight.

That release has now taken place and Alam has been taken to the Bangladesh Rifle's base camp where formalities regarding his release are to take place.

His friends and family thank all who campaigned through email, blogs and Twitter on his behalf.