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October 08, 2025 – Bangladesh/Palestine –
A prominent Bangladeshi activist, participating in the Thousand Madleens / Freedom Flotilla mission to Gaza, has urged supporters worldwide to persist in the struggle for Palestinian liberation. He emphasized the urgency of maintaining pressure, saying: “I appeal to all my comrades and friends to continue fighting for the freedom of Palestine.”
The activist in question is Shahidul Alam, a renowned photographer, writer, and director of the Dhaka-based media organization, Drik. He was among a group of approximately 145 activists from 30 countries who were intercepted by Israeli naval forces off Gaza’s coast while attempting to break the maritime blockade.
Following the interception, Alam and 144 others were taken into custody and reportedly transferred to Ketziot Prison in Israel’s Negev region. During his detention, Alam later described the psychological trauma as more intense than physical abuse, recounting moments of humiliation such as having his passport repeatedly thrown to the ground.
The Bangladesh interim government has stated it is coordinating with Turkey in diplomatic efforts to secure Alam’s release. Domestically and internationally, voices have risen in solidarity: writers, activists and human rights supporters—including Arundhati Roy—have called for the unconditional release of Alam and all detained humanitarians aboard the flotilla missions. Meanwhile, Drik has demanded that Israel free all flotilla detainees as well as Palestinian political prisoners.
On October 10, Israeli authorities released Alam, and he returned to Dhaka via Istanbul the following day. Upon arrival, he reiterated that the plight of Gaza remains unresolved and called for renewed global pressure to end the blockade and occupation.
This alarming episode underscores the high stakes faced by civil society actors attempting to challenge geostrategic blockades. Alam’s detention and subsequent release highlight both the perils of activism in contested waters and the power of international attention and solidarity in raising human rights concerns.
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