Shahidul Alam returns home after release from Israeli custody

Shahidul Alam returns home after release from Israeli custody Image collected from internet

The Business Daily

Published : 01:03, 12 October 2025

Renowned Bangladeshi photographer and rights activist Shahidul Alam returned to Dhaka early Saturday after his release from Israeli detention following the interception of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla.

He landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at about 4:45 a.m. on a Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul, where Bangladeshi diplomats had received him the previous day.

Alam was greeted at the airport’s VIP gate by family members and colleagues from Drik and Pathshala.

Speaking briefly, he thanked the people of Bangladesh and acknowledged the government’s diplomatic efforts, including coordination with Türkiye, for securing his release.
He had joined a civil society mission that set sail from Italy on September 30, aiming to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Israeli forces intercepted the flotilla at sea and transferred detainees, including journalists, medics, and activists, to the Ketziot prison complex in the Negev. Alam described being detained for nearly three days before being deported via Türkiye and repatriated to Bangladesh.

Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser’s Office said embassies in Turkey, Jordan, and Egypt engaged their counterparts after the arrest, while Turkish authorities facilitated transit and consular support. Alam’s release comes amid a wave of deportations of flotilla participants of several nationalities. He vowed to continue advocacy for Palestinian rights while recovering from the ordeal.

Sources: Dhaka Tribune , Prothom Alo , TBS News , Anadolu Agency , The Daily Star , New Age Bangladesh 

BD/AN

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