On country’s Independence Day, Al Jazeera looks at issues surrounding war crimes trials that have divided the nation. Sumi Khan,?Ben Piven?and?Jeremy Swinarton
Author: Shahidul Alam
Time Magazine Person of the Year 2018. A photographer, writer, curator and activist, Shahidul Alam obtained a PhD in chemistry before switching to photography. His seminal work “The Struggle for Democracy” contributed to the removal of General Ershad. Former president of the Bangladesh Photographic Society, Alam set up the Drik agency, Chobi Mela festival and Pathshala, South Asian Media Institute, considered one of the finest schools of photography in the world. Shown in MOMA New York, Centre Georges Pompidou, Royal Albert Hall and Tate Modern, Alam has been guest curator of Whitechapel Gallery, Winterthur Gallery and Musee de Quai Branly. His awards include Mother Jones, Shilpakala Award and Lifetime Achievement Award at the Dali International Festival of Photography. Speaker at Harvard, Stanford, UCLA, Oxford and Cambridge universities, TEDx, POPTech and National Geographic, Alam chaired the international jury of the prestigious World Press Photo contest. Honorary Fellow of Royal Photographic Society, Alam is visiting professor of Sunderland University in UK and advisory board member of National Geographic Society. John Morris, the former picture editor of Life Magazine describes his book “My journey as a witness”, (listed in “Best Photo Books of 2011” by American Photo), as “The most important book ever written by a photographer.” View all posts by Shahidul Alam
Bhaiya, Salaam. With due respect I would like to mention that we do not expect you to share news from Aljazera who sneakily always is trying to minimize the massacre took place in Bangladesh. For instance, just take a good look at the way they have tried to pick up the data of 1971 genocide.
So far they had tried their best to portray the event of war crime trail as a flawed one, as if the accused ones were not guilty or just being victimized. Can you share any of their news where they have put up information on the families who had lost their loved ones in 1971? Should not they deserve something in the name of justice??? Alas, every time if Aljazhera is talking about the people’s protest at Shahbag they had mentioned that as “ghost of 1971”. I am sure you have observed their attempts as well.
However, it is up to you what you will read and what you will post, yet being a big fan of yours, I feel your followers need to see your care in your writings and shared posts that will highlight general Bangladeshi’s words of mind. I am not telling you to care about what I have said. I am just any Mr. A/B/C…Why bother then? The listed accused have money and many people beside them to save their souls, but the unfortunate, poor, simple, innocent people of the country have no one beside them. They only are looking at people like you. And I am sure you know why.
Regards.
Dear Farah,
Thank you for your mail. It is very rare to find a news report that one fully agrees with, and I do agree with you that there are issues about Al Jazeera reporting that are of concern. Their reporting on Bahrain being a particularly conspicuous example. However, as Bangladeshis it is important for us to know how mainstream media is reporting on our country.
I have in the past posted news items by New York Times, Newsweek, BBC, the Guardian, the Economist etc., which I’ve found important to share. Very rarely have I fully agreed with their analysis. I wish youtube was there, as one of the best news sources today is Russian TV, which we do not see here, but clips are occasionally available on youtube.
We need to sift through these reports and address valid issues when they are raised. Readers such as you, are intelligent enough to make your own decisions.
Best wishes,
Shahidul