Photographer-activist Shahidul Alam allegedly abducted from Dhanmondi home

People posing as law enforcers have abducted photographer and activist Shahidul Alam from his home in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi, allege his family and Drik Gallery that he owns.

But the police have denied the claim saying they do not know the whereabouts of the gallery’s managing director.

Police officials took Shahidul to Dhanmondi Police Station from his home on Road 9/A around 10:45pm on Sunday, Drik Communications Officer Amina Neyamat told bdnews24.com.

Citing the statement of Shahidul’s wife Rahnuma Ahmed, Amina said the family could not find Shahidul at the police station at midnight.

“They are not saying where they have taken him,” Amina said.

Dhanmondi Police Station OC Abdul Latif told bdnews24.com that Shahidul’s family came to the station to report that some people had whisked him away from his home.

“But he has not been brought to our station,” the OC added.

Other senior police officers of Dhaka Metropolitan Police did not take calls from bdnews24.com for comments on Shahidul, who has also founded Pathshala, the South Asian Media Institute.

Drik in a statement alleged Shahidul was abducted from his home after 10pm.

Quoting witnesses, including security guards at the building, it said 30 to 35 people posing as members of the Detective Branch of police dragged Shahidul out of his home.

They also locked the guards in a room, covered the CCTV camera of the building and took away the recordings before leaving the premises, Drik said.

The abductors used a HiAce vehicle with ‘Popular Life Insurance’ written on it to take Shahidul away, according to the statement.

Rahnuma rushed down the stairs hearing Shahidul crying for help but the car carrying him and two other vehicles sped off before she could reach them, it added.