Shahidul Alam

A Bangladeshi photographer and human rights advocate who used visual storytelling to expose injustice and empower marginalized communities

Shahidul Alam (1954-2021) was a pioneering Bangladeshi photographer and social activist whose work documented human rights struggles across Asia. As founder of Drik Picture Library and Pathshala South Asian Media Institute, he created a platform for underrepresented voices in visual media. His iconic photojournalism captured the 1989 student uprising in Bangladesh and the 2007 Cyclone Sidr disaster, bringing global attention to South Asia's socio-environmental crises.

Alam's advocacy extended beyond photography. He pioneered participatory media training programs, empowering marginalized communities to document their own stories. His 'Disasters' series challenged Western media narratives by presenting Bangladesh's climate resilience efforts through local perspectives. Despite facing imprisonment for criticizing government policies, he remained a vocal advocate for press freedom, earning the Robert Capa Gold Medal and the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize.

Alam's legacy lives on through Pathshala's alumni, who continue his mission of socially engaged journalism. His work is preserved in the Drik Archives and exhibited globally, including at the Tate Modern. Explore his complete works on Wikipedia or watch his TED Talk about press freedom. His final project, 'The Memory of the World', preserves South Asia's photographic heritage through digital archives.