CA’s Press Secy Shafiqul calls for immediate release of Shahidul Alam, others detained from Gaza flotilla
Shahidul Alam stands as a shining embodiment of the unyielding spirit of Bangladesh, says Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam.
Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam has demanded the immediate release of photographer Shahidul Alam and others detained by Israeli forces from the Freedom Flotilla.
In a Facebook post this afternoon (8 October), Shafiqul said, "Our hearts and prayers are with Shahidul Alam, the world-renowned photographer and human rights activist.
"In a recent Facebook post, he shared that the flotilla he is aboard has been intercepted at sea and that he and his fellow travellers have been kidnapped by the occupation forces of Israel."
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In a pre-recorded video released on his Facebook profile at 10:17am today, the photojournalist says, "If you are seeing this video, we have been intercepted at sea, and I have been kidnapped by the occupation forces of Israel."
Expressing hope, Shafiqul said the extraordinary courage and resilience that had sustained Shahidul during his imprisonment under the Sheikh Hasina regime would once again carry him through his latest ordeal.
"We demand the immediate release of Shahidul and all others from the flotilla. Shahidul stands as a shining embodiment of the unyielding spirit of Bangladesh. May Allah protect and keep Shahidul and the rest of the team safe."
The chief adviser's press secretary also said, "Yet even as we focus on Shahidul's safety, we must not lose sight of the broader context: the ongoing devastation and genocide in Gaza. The global spotlight must remain fixed on the catastrophic loss of life, the relentless destruction and the devastated humanitarian landscape there."
The Gaza aid flotilla vessel Conscience, carrying many including Shahidul, was intercepted by Israeli forces earlier in the day.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) said today that the Israeli military had attacked and intercepted its convoy of boats en route to Gaza, including The Conscience – a vessel carrying 93 journalists, doctors and activists, among them Bangladeshi photographer Shahidul Alam.
In a statement, the FFC said the Israeli forces had targeted The Conscience before moving to intercept three smaller boats, reports Al Jazeera.
Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the raid on X, saying the flotilla's attempt to breach what it described as a "legal naval blockade" had failed.
"The vessels and the passengers are transferred to an Israeli port. All the passengers are safe and in good health. The passengers are expected to be deported promptly," it added.
