London/Yangon -- Burma Human Rights Network is calling on the Bangladesh authorities to immediately release Abdul Kalam, a Rohingya photographer. Abdul Kalam was arrested on December 28th, 2020, while he was taking photographs of buses leaving with Rohingya refugees for the controversial refugee camps in the flood prone Bhasan Char. Abdul Kalam is reportedly still held in the police barracks in Kutupalong and has not been brought before a judge.
“The arrest of Abdul Kalam is deeply troubling, and the world must intervene on his behalf. The refugees living in Bangladesh have too often faced excessive force by police and punishment for pursuing their creative passions or trying to better themselves. Life in the camps is full of hardship, and the only way we can understand that is from the efforts of people like Abdul Kalam, who has, with great skill, documented this in his photography for years. Bangladesh should not punish anyone for documenting the suffering of their own people but may consider why it was important to document the transfer of refugees to Bhasan Char, and why this move is so upsetting for so many. Above all else, Bangladesh must release Abdul Kalam immediately and refrain from persecuting any photographer or journalist in the camps in the future,” said BHRN’s Executive Director, Kyaw Win.
Bangladesh currently hosts over a million Rohingya refugees in various camps near the Burmese border. Kutupalong, where Abdul Kalam was arrested, is the largest among them. Abdul Kalam, like many of the refugees, has spent nearly his entire life in the camps without prospect for resettlement in a third country and with limited opportunities for education and employment. Despite this, he found a passion for photography which allowed him to work and document the plight of his own people. For this, he should be celebrated, not punished.
Background on the Burma Human Rights Network (BHRN)
BHRN is based in London and operates across Burma/Myanmar working for human rights, minority rights and religious freedom in the country. BHRN has played a crucial role in advocating for human rights and religious freedom with politicians and world leaders.
Media Enquiries
Please contact:
Kyaw Win
Executive Director
Burma Human Rights Network (BHRN)
E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
T: +44(0) 740 345 2378
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