The government of Bangladesh shut down the Dhaka based Drik Gallery show on the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB). I’d written about the show last week, though I failed to mention–I thought it unnecessary at the time–that this was a righteous show to come along at this, the right moment when greater emphasis on democracy and transparency seemed to be part of the government rhetoric.
The photojournalist and artist, Shahidul Alam has mounted a show of photographs that speak to incoherent and inconsistent narrative that the previous and sitting government had drawn on its anti-crime efforts. The RAB is a special anti-crime police force that answers to the Home Ministry and is therefore a weapon that can be wielded by either right or left parties in government. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the unit has gone off the reservation and is up to the disreputable sort of scavenging mission that makes for bad Hollywood and Bollywood movies. Against that genus of mendacious unravelling, Mr. Alam’s work is something of a beacon, forensically shining light into the holes in the government’s ill-wrought tale. Now that government has begun the process to silence him.
To get the whole story as it is transpiring, I quote the short Daily Star piece in its entirety.
“Police on Monday shut down Drik Gallery in Dhanmondi just before the start of a photo exhibition on extra judicial killings by the Rapid Action Battalion, saying the exhibition would create ‘unrest.’
Drik Gallery officials told The Daily Star that the gallery was closed around 3:30pm, which was set to start the exhibition of photos by Shahidul Alam styled ‘Crossfire’ at 4:00pm.
The organisers said a police team led by Dhanmondi police chief Shah Alam entered the premises of Drik Gallery without permission and asked the authorities to cancel the exhibition immediately.
But the Drik authorities refused to shut the gallery as the photos on display were symbolic and allegorical.
Police could not show any warrant, court order or any executive order, they said.
As police barricaded the entrance of the gallery, the organisers opened a street exhibition outside Drik Gallery.
Noted Indian writer and human rights activist Mahasweta Devi inaugurated the event along with Nurul Kabir, editor of the New Age, M Hamid, chief executive officer of RTV and Jorge Vilacorta, a curator from Peru.”
Art that narrates an illuminating biography of a people cannot fail to create unrest, but one that no decent government concerned with its people need worry. The sitting government with this one move has shown its card to the world, waiting and willing to pay attention.
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