Bangladeshi photographer, Jibon Ahmed, sacked over viral kiss photo
A renowned Bangladeshi photographer, Jibon Ahmed, today said he has been the victim of "unwanted cruelty" after being sacked over an image of a couple kissing that raised a social media storm in the conservative Muslim-majority country. The Purboposhchimbd news portal said Ahmed was "not fit" to work for the company because of doubts about whether the kiss image was staged. Here's more.
Ahmed claimed he was roughed-up by other photographers over image
Ahmed protested his innocence, insisted he has proof the image was spontaneous and said he has been roughed up by other photographers because of the image. In a Facebook post, Ahmed said, "I never ever believed that one click would create so many stories. Today due to this photo, the social and mainstream media are flooded with false and true stories about me."
Photo drew social media praise for bringing social freedom
The couple was snapped kissing in monsoon rain on the steps of the Dhaka University campus. He posted the photo on his Facebook page that quickly went viral. It drew social media praise for bringing a hint of social freedom. But conservatives questioned whether the photo breached Bangladesh's public decency mores. Media commentators asked whether Ahmed sought the couple's permission to publish the photo.
Other photographers confronted Ahmed over kiss image
Ahmed, who captured the harrowing aftermath of an attack on a Bangladesh-born US writer hacked to death by Islamist extremists on Dhaka campus 3yrs ago, said other photographers confronted him over the kiss image. "They asked me why did I shoot the photo," he said.
Online newspaper Purboposhchimbd believed photo was 'preplanned'
After publishing the photo, Purboposhchimbd later wrote an article saying it believed the photo was "preplanned" and the photographer had "apologized". The Editor, Khujista Nur-e-Naharin, said there were suspicions the photo was staged with "models" and that Ahmed wasn't "fit" to work for the news portal. "We have asked him many times to give explanation whether models were used. He didn't communicate," she said.
Ahmed rejected criticism, says he has proof pic was 'natural'
Ahmed, who said he was sacked, rejected the employer's criticism, and insisted he has proof that the image was "natural". He said his conscience would not let him sue his fellow journalists. The couple in the photo has not made any public comment.
