Shahidul Alam is a Bangladeshi photographer, photojournalist, author, teacher and social activist. Profoundly influenced by inequality in his native Bangladesh and the Liberation War, he pursued a life in photography to challenge oppression and imperialism in all its forms.
Background
Shahidul Alam was born in 1955, in Dhaka, East Pakistan (present-day Dhaka, Bangladesh) as one of three siblings into the family of middle-class parents and was reared in Dhanmondi residential area of Dhaka. Alam's father, Kazi Abul Monsur, was a physician and microbiologist and his mother was a child psychologist.
Education
In his early years, Alam studied at Jhenaidah Cadet College (military boarding school). Then, he went on to study at the University of Liverpool, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry and Genetics in 1976. Later, Alam moved to London and enrolled at Bedford College, London. In 1983, Shahidul graduated from the educational establishment with a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Organic Chemistry. Also, it's important to note, that it was during his time in London, that Alam developed an interest in photography.
Career
At the beginning of his career, when Alam was a student of Bedford College, London, he worked as a research chemist to invent alternative printing processes for photographs. In 1989, Alam established Drik Picture Library in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Nine years later, in 1998, he founded the Pathshala South Asian Media Institute (formerly Pathshala South Asian Institute of Photography) in Dhaka as well. The establishment has educated hundreds of photographers. In 1999, Shahidul set up the Chobi Mela International Photography Festival and these days, he continues to head the festival. Besides, Shahidul also founded the Bangladesh Photographic Institute, DrikNews photo agency and Banglarights, the Bangladesh human rights portal.
As a founder of the South Asian Media Academy, Alam has covered various news events, such as natural disasters, governmental upheavals, the deaths of garment factory workers, human rights abuses, Bangladeshi government and military's repression and the "disappearances" of political opponents.
During his career, Alam also has served as a judge of the World Press Photo competition on four occasions and was the first Asian chair of its judging panel. Also, he acted as a member of the jury board of The BOBs' award. Moreover, he is on the advisory board of the National Geographic Society and the Eugene Smith Fund. Shahidul also serves as a board member in such organizations, as Majority World CIC, Panos South Asia and PRIP Trust.
It's worth mentioning, that Shahidul has taken part in and curated a number of exhibitions during his lifetime. In 2010, he co-curated the exhibition, titled "Where Three Dreams Cross", held at the Whitechapel Gallery in London. The same year, one of his exhibitions on extrajudicial killings, titled "Crossfire", curated by Peruvian curator Jorge Villacorta, was widely acclaimed, but closed down by the police, leading to nationwide protests. Later, the exhibition was reopened for public viewing. In 2012, Alam participated in the inaugural Kochi-Muziris Biennale, held in Kerala, India.
On August 5, 2018, Alam was arrested and detained shortly after giving an interview to Al Jazeera and posting live videos on Facebook, that criticized the government's violent response to the 2018 Bangladesh road safety protests. Many international humanitarian organizations and news media called for his release without charge. As a result, Alam was granted bail on November 20, 2018.
Alam has penned three books, such as "Nature's Fury" (2007), "My Journey as a Witness" (2011) and "The Best Years of My Life: Bangladeshi Migrants in Malaysia" (2016).
Currently, besides his main activities, Alam also serves as a visiting professor at the University of Sunderland in England. He has also guest-lectured at Harvard University, Stanford University and the University of Oxford.
Politics
During his college years, Alam was involved in the Socialist Workers Party.
Views
Alam's work focuses on exposing abuses of power.