An airplane carrying the banner message “Free Shahidul Alam” circled around the skies of Manhattan, New York City, in the US, for one-and-half hours, as the sun set.
The banner proclaimed “free our teachers—” referring to Shahidul’s role as a teacher, mentor, and guide to the youth. The hashtags UNGA and Bangladesh were also written on the banner, Wasfia Nazreen said in a statement published on social media.
Wasfia, a national geographic explorer, carried the message from the sky, the statement reads.
Shahidul, an internationally-renowned Bangladeshi photographer, photojournalist, and activist, has been in police custody since August 5. His arrest followed an interview he gave to Al Jazeera in which he criticized the government following issues raised during the then-ongoing student protests in Dhaka.
“Dr Alam is an inspiration for Bangladesh and beyond. He should be celebrated amongst Bangladeshis for the treasure and pride that he is. We, the youth of Bangladesh who comprise almost 70% of the nation, urge the Government of Bangladesh to immediately and unconditionally release him and all our teachers. I hope our respected leaders will pay heed to our message.”
As the plane circled around the iconic Statue of Liberty, a packed crowd cheered from below. This protest follows a weekend of demonstrations and talks held at the city calling for greater press freedom in Bangladesh—particularly addressing the case of Shahidul. Demonstrators gathered outside the UN General Assembly on September 27 to call for freedom of the press and the protection of journalists in Bangladesh. At a separate event at the UN General Assembly, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) covered the imprisonment of Shahidul, along with journalists from Myanmar, Kyrgyzstan, and Egypt. They denounced several countries for imprisoning journalists, and others for failing to admonish those that do.
The call for Shahidul’s release has been supported internationally by numerous organizations, 12 Nobel Laureates, and international figures. These include: Kerry Kennedy, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Hollywood actress and activist Sharon Stone, Amartya Sen, and British MPs.
