Ahmed Kabir Kishore
Ahmed Kabir Kishore | |
---|---|
আহমেদ কবির কিশোর | |
Born | May 30, 1974 |
Nationality | Bangladeshi |
Occupation | cartoonist |
Ahmed Kabir Kishore (
Biography
Kishore's parents are AKM Mozammel Huq and Begum Kohinoor Huq.Mozammel Huque was a deputy general manager of Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation, an artist, actor, voice artist and a writer as well. He incepted a new cultural activity just after independence war through publishing literature magazines. Kishore learnt how to draw from his father and brother.[7] He passed SSC and HSC examination from Khalishpur Crescent School and BL College respectively. He got admitted in the Architecture department of BUET, but didn't complete his studies. Then he also joined the Bangladesh Navy as an officer cadet, promoted to midshipman and withdrawn from academy for protesting corporal punishment four days before passing out parade.[8] He achieved the most prestigious 'Captains cake' for his unerring performance in arts and crafts competition in the academy. He completed his BSc from Naval Academy. Kishore completed his MDP course from IBA, DU and was later admitted in governance studies (15-16) session under political science, Dhaka University and completed up to the third semester.
Cartoons and activism
Kishore worked for the humor periodicals "Khobor Ache" of Daily Manobjomin, "Alpin" of Prothom Alo, "Bhimrul" of Amar Desh and "Bicchu" of Daily Jugantor.[8] His first job as a cartoonist was in the noted Bangladeshi weekly Bichitra.Then he joined in the daily Prothom Alo as a contributing cartoonist and later joined the Daily Amar Desh as an editorial cartoonist.
Kishore is identified as a Cartoonist Rights Network International (CRNI) "affiliate leader" in Bangladesh for his decade-long work as a cartoonist and activist. He campaigned for jailed Bangladeshi cartoonist Arifur Rahman (2007) and the disappeared Sri Lankan cartoonist Prageeth Eknaligoda (2010). He worked for human rights, Third gender people, health and consumer rights and the Bengali language.[9] During March and April 2020, Kishore drew several cartoons criticizing and satirizing the Bangladesh Government's handling of COVID-19 pandemic and posted it in his Facebook timeline with the title "Life in the Time of Corona".[10][3] In 2020, he also drew a satirical cartoon mocking the chairman of a private bank, a powerful businessman with close ties to the government[11] of Bangladesh.[12]
Detention and torture
Kishore and his elder friend writer
In March 2021, Kishore and his lawyer told the court and the journalists that Kishore had been tortured in custody.[18] Kishore alleged that he was questioned for 69 hours[12] from May 2 to May 5. He was beaten with steel stick. His ear's drum burst when RAB persons slammed his head. He was denied food and insulin even after informing that he was diabetic. Kishore showed the oozing ear canal and scars on his leg to the journalists of The Daily Star (Bangladesh) and Prothom Alo.[4][12] According to Kishore's brother Ahmed Kabir, Kishore suffered from trauma and major ear damage from the torture in custody. Kishore needed surgery on his ear, eye[19] and had to receive treatment for nose, throat and leg after getting out on bail. Ashique Billah, legal and media wing director of RAB denied any allegations of torture on Kishore, mentioning that "Kishore was speaking as an aggrieved person", which statement he could not make as a law enforcement staff.[20]
Reaction of detention
Bail
Kishore and Mushtaq were denied bail 6 times by the lower court of Bangladesh during the 10 months period they were detained under the
Books
- Bhalobashar Chhoragolpo, Jagriti Publications, 2006
- Kishore er Nirbachito Chushil Cartoon, Amar Prokashoni, 2012
- Bangladesher Cartoon, Cartooner Bangladesh, Shrabon Prokashoni, 2012 - which is the only publication ever on such topic.
- Deyaler Golpo, Priomukh Prokashoni, 2016[8] - a compilation of short stories.
Awards
In 2020, Kishore received the Robert Russell Courage in Cartooning Award as a recognition of his "social engagement and defence of human rights".[29] Kishore also received the first Unmad medal from Unmad, a sole cartoon magazine published from Dhaka, Bangladesh.[8]
See also
References
- ^ a b Mahmud, Faisal (3 March 2021). "Bangladeshi cartoonist granted bail after widespread protests". aljazeera. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
- ^ Manik, Julfikar Ali; Mashal, Mujib (26 February 2021). "Bangladeshi Writer, Detained Over Social Media Posts, Dies in Jail". The New York Times. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
- ^ a b "OHCHR | UN experts: Bangladesh should release artist jailed over cartoons". www.ohchr.org. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
- ^ a b c Islam, Zyma (5 March 2021). "Scars of torture all over him". The Daily Star. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
- ^ "Cartooning for Peace" (in French). Retrieved 2021-03-06.
- ^ "CARTOONISTS RIGHTS NETWORK INTERNATIONAL". CARTOONISTS RIGHTS NETWORK INTERNATIONAL. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
- ^ a b "Jailed under Digital Security Act, Bangladeshi cartoonist Kabir Kishore says he was tortured". Committee to Protect Journalists. 2021-03-30. Retrieved 2021-04-01.
- ^ a b c d e "Mushtaq is my brother". The Daily Star (Opinion). 2021-03-11. Retrieved 2021-03-21.
- ^ "Ahmed Kishore, detained under Digital Security Act, wins 'Courage In Cartooning Award 2020'". The Daily Star. 2020-10-04. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
- ^ Mamun, Shohel (26 February 2021). "Cartoonist Kishore severely ill in prison". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
- ^ "Bangladesh cartoonist granted bail after protests". sg.news.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on 2023-02-04. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
- ^ a b c Alam, Sheikh Sabiha. "Kishore kept in unknown place for 69 hrs, beaten, quizzed about cartoons". Prothom Alo. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
- ^ "Document". www.amnesty.org. Retrieved 2021-04-20.
- ^ "Cartooning for Peace" (in French). Retrieved 2021-04-20.
- ^ "Bangladesh High Court grants bail to imprisoned cartoonist Ahmed Kabir Kishore". The New Indian Express. 3 March 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
- ^ "Virtual court to hear petition seeking remand for cartoonist, 3 others tomorrow". The Daily Star. 2020-06-15. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
- ^ "Bangladesh cartoonist held over virus post". 9News. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
- ^ "Jailed Bangladeshi cartoonist gets bail". www.telegraphindia.com. 4 March 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
- ^ কার্টুনিস্ট কিশোরের প্রয়োজন দুটো অপারেশন. Bangla Tribune (in Bengali). Retrieved 2021-03-08.
- ^ "Legal move likely against custodial torture on Kishore". New Age. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
- ^ "New Bangladesh protests as UN calls for overhaul of security law". France 24. 2021-03-01. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
- ^ "PEN America Calls for the Imminent Release of Tortured Bangladeshi Cartoonist". PEN America. 2021-03-02. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
- ^ "Rights' Groups, Diplomats Seek Impartial Probe into Bangladesh Writer's Custodial Death". The Wire. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
- ^ "Nine Int'l organisations urge Bangladesh govt to repeal Digital Security Act". Prothom Alo. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
- ^ "Mushtaq Ahmed death: No proof of negligence found in jail authorities' probe". Dhaka Tribune. 3 March 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
- ^ "Bangladesh High Court grants bail to imprisoned cartoonist". The Washington Times. 3 March 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
- ^ "Editors' Council demands immediate review of DSA". New Age. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
- ^ "Cartoonist Kishore files torture complaint with Dhaka court". Dhaka Tribune. 2021-03-10. Retrieved 2021-03-19.
- ^ "Release cartoonist Kishore from jail". The Daily Star. 2020-12-17. Retrieved 2021-03-06.