Two Bangladesh origin British lawmakers have expressed their concern over the arrest on ‘internationally acclaimed photographer’ Shahidul Alam.

Rushanara Ali and Rupa Huq in separates statements urged the government to drop the case against him.

“I have received numerous representations from my constituents, who are friends of Mr Shahidul Alam, seeking assistance following his arrest and calling for his immediate release,” wrote Rushanara Ali.

Alam is well-known in the wider British Bangladeshi community for his photography, having held many exhibitions in the UK, including in schools and the Rich Mix Arts Centre in my constituency, along with other national institutions, she said.

“We are very concerned about his safety and wellbeing, and urge the Government of Bangladesh to recognise his right to free speech and fair treatment.”

I've written to Bangladeshi High Commission and UK Foreign Office demanding action after constituent-relatives of acclaimed photographer #ShahidulAlam imprisoned by Bangladeshi officials for speaking out on student protests in Dhaka @AlJazeera contacted me. #FreeShahidul pic.twitter.com/zuKBnmjWGV

— Rupa Huq MP (@RupaHuq) August 14, 2018

Rupa Huq in her statement said: “I have been contacted by his family, who happen to be constituents of mine. Mr Alam is the latest victim in a long series of extremely dubious arrests made in Bangladesh, and his family is terrified about what will happen to him next.”

Alam supported the student protest and spoke with Al-Jazeera TV on Aug 5 and hours later, he was ‘abducted by circa.’

“The offences for which he was pulled up in court the following morning were under the Information and Communication Act, due to Facebook output where he posted support for the road safety protests,” Rupa said.

“Please exercise the power you wield to urge the authorities in Bangladesh to drop the case against him,” she added.

Alam, the founder of photography agency Drik and Pathshala South Asian Media Institute, was picked up from his Dhanmondi home around 10:30pm on Aug 5.

The award-winning photographer was picked up a day after he was assaulted while capturing photos of the ongoing students’ protests and his camera was vandalised in Dhanmondi.