It’s ok for them to be killing people, but it’s not ok for us to be showing this, apparently,’ said, photographer and founder of DRIK, Shahidul Alam when the police were closing the gates of the DRIK building on Monday, 22 March. In the gallery pictures are exhibited of places where people where killed by the Rapid Action Battalion. Today Bangladeshi Police hindered the opening of the exhibition, which was also the launch of the Media Academy. 

Shahidul Alam: ‘We have authorisation for this show. We’ve had photo exhibitions here since1993. Some were opened by the former prime minister, others by the present prime minister Sheikh Hasina. The police wants to close this exhibition because as they say, it might create unrest. The only unrest we’ve had so far at our gallery, is when the police intervened.’
Nurul Kabir, editor in chief of New Age newspaper, and guest speaker said that democratically oriented people should be protesting against the killings, not against the exhibition which shows it.

Hand cuffs
Writer and activist Mahasweta Devi symbolically opened the exhibition by unlocking a pair of handcuffs, which Shahidul Alam had attached to his wrists. Alam then shouted ‘Freedom!’ The exhibition was then showed in live stream at www.drik.tv 

Image
Dutch Ambassador Hennekens was disappointed to find the gates closed. ‘This is not good for the image of Bangladesh. I do hope that we can convince the authorities to open these gates again.’ Hennekens tried to call the Home Ministry. He than exchanged name cards with the inspector at the door, and expressed his wish to be updated on the situation.

Start of Media Academy
Arnob Chakrabarty, Head of Training of the newly founded Media Academy of DRIK said that the police raid today (Monday, 22 March) showed the need for good, courageous and thorough journalism. 'The Media Academy will be constantly exploring the borders of press freedom in Bangladesh.‘

Photo:
Noted Indian writer and human rights activist Mahasweta Devi speaks to the police after they barricaded the gates to prevent the opening of a Drik Gallery exhibition ‘Crossfire’. Shahidul Alam, the photographer, is seen standing beside her / Photo: Amdadul.  

Read more about the exhibition on: The New York Times