Shahidul Alam to be the First Bangladeshi in Gaza-Bound Media Flotilla

Shahidul Alam, the internationally acclaimed photojournalist, writer, and human rights activist, will become the first Bangladeshi to join the Freedom Flotilla Coalition’s (FFC) “Media Flotilla” in its bid to break Israel’s blockade on Gaza and challenge restrictions on press freedom.

Alam is scheduled to leave Dhaka for Italy on Sunday. From there, the media flotilla will set sail for Gaza. Speaking at a press conference on Saturday afternoon at Drik Gallery in Dhaka, Shahidul Alam said the mission aimed to stand in solidarity with Palestinians and draw global attention to the humanitarian crisis.

“A genocide is taking place. Israel and the United States are killing people in Palestine and Gaza, with many Western countries supporting them,” Alam said. “People all over the world are protesting. I am joining the media flotilla as part of that protest.”

He added, “I am the first Bangladeshi to join, but I am carrying the love of all Bangladeshis with me. Our participation alone is not enough. If we fail, humanity itself will fail.”

The activist noted that the final number of participants on the media flotilla had yet to be confirmed.

The FFC initiative has long sought to challenge Israel’s blockade on Gaza. On August 30, about 500 activists from 44 countries joined the Gaza-bound flotilla carrying relief supplies. The fleet has already come under Israeli attack twice. The media flotilla will add a large vessel and 10 smaller boats to the existing fleet in its latest attempt to reach the besieged territory.