Shahidul Alam

Activist Type

Human Rights

Shahidul Alam is a Bangladeshi photojournalist, public speaker, storyteller, writer, curator, blogger, and educationist. Founder of institutions like Drik Picture Library, Pathshala South Asian Media Institute, and the Chobi Mela International Photography Festival, Alam has been instrumental in shaping the narrative of social justice in Bangladesh and beyond. Alam is credited with introducing email to Bangladesh in the early 1990s and developing Bangladesh’s first webzine and web portal. His books include 2007’s Nature’s Fury, and 2011’s My Journey as a Witness.

Alam’s commitment to human rights and freedom of expression has earned him prestigious awards like the Honorary Fellowship of the Royal Photographic Society and the Shilpakala Padak by the President of Bangladesh. He was also one of Time magazine’s “Persons of the Year” in 2018 and the CASE Humanitarian of the Year in 2021.

Artwork by

Nasheen Jahan Nasir

The portrait of Shahidul Alam depicts his determination, resilience and optimism through the vibrant colors of traditional rickshaw art of Bangladesh. Both rickshaw paintings and Shahidul’s photography work generate from the grassroots level of Bangladesh where they both illustrate the emotions, strife, and tragedy at the same time the dreams and aspirations of local people. All the elements in the art depict his journey and struggle as a photojournalist including the 107 days he spent in jail.

Bangladesh

Capital

Dhaka

Founded

March 26, 1971

Demonym

Bangladeshi