Dhaka cops shut down exhibition on extra-judicial killings

DHAKA - A photography exhibition on extra-judicial killings carried out by government agencies was shut by police here. Indian writer and human rights activist Mahasweta Devi, however, went ahead and inaugurated it on the road outside the gallery.

Police Monday closed the exhibition “Crossfire” about an hour before it was scheduled to start. A police contingent barred entry and exit of visitors at the exhibition venue.

Though two exhibitions were being held on the first and the second floors of the building, police only wanted to know whether the organisers had permission for the exhibition on “Crossfire”, The Daily Star said.

However, the exhibition was inaugurated by Mahasweta Devi on the road in front of the gallery at the scheduled time.

Officer-in-Charge of Dhanmondi Police Station Shah Alam said they had closed the exhibition as the organisers did not have any permission. There were fears, he said, that it may cause fear in the public and lead to deterioration of the law and order situation.

Shahidul Alam, who set up the exhibition, said he had organised numerous exhibitions for which permission was not required.

“We organised the exhibition to raise awareness and draw the government and the court’s attention to the extra judicial killings through art,” Alam told the newspaper.