Bangladeshi photographer Shahidul Alam detained over media comments during student protests

Shahidul Alam, a 63-year-old award-winning photographer from Bangladesh, was taken into custody by police on Sunday. At least 20 officers, both uniformed and plain-clothes, arrested him at his home. Authorities are holding Alam for seven days, alleging he made provocative comments to media outlets about student demonstrations. Police official Moshuir Rahman stated that Alam was interrogated for disseminating false information and admitted the remarks were his personal opinion. Charges under the International Communication and Technology Act for spreading anti-government propaganda are likely. Alam had documented the protests, sharing images and live broadcasts on Facebook. He told Al Jazeera that the unrest stemmed from broader issues like bank looting and extrajudicial killings, not just road safety. Student protests erupted after two teenagers died in a bus accident, with demonstrators demanding safer roads. Police responded with tear gas, and students were reportedly besieged in campus buildings. Alam criticized the government for using armed vigilantes against unarmed students, claiming repression had failed. Friends, including Shireen Huq, noted the situation was unclear as no one could meet him. Al Jazeera's Tanvir Chowdhury reported from Dhaka that Alam appeared limping in a social media video. Rights groups like Amnesty International called for his immediate release, warning of a dangerous government crackdown.