On board Gaza flotilla: Shahidul Alam recalls jail days, says it prepared him for current conditions
Shahidul Alam, who was jailed for 107 days in August 2018 after criticising the then Hasina government, has long been an outspoken voice on human rights and press freedom
Renowned Bangladeshi photographer and activist Shahidul Alam, currently aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla en route to Gaza, said his time in remand and jail in Bangladesh had prepared him to endure the difficult conditions on the ship.
"This is the choice sleeping area in the ship 'Conscience'. As the last person to board the ship, I had no space here. I had slept in the open deck last night, but with the storm outside that option had gone. I found a tiny alcove next to the exit gate. It was noisy and lit up, but my period in remand and jail had prepared me well for these conditions, and I slept like a log!" Alam wrote in a Facebook post today (2 October).
He said messages of goodwill and prayers were pouring in from across the globe.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
"I am sorry I am unable to respond to all of you, but have passed your greetings and your prayers to my comrades. It makes a world of difference," he added.
Addressing journalists, Alam apologised for not being able to respond to individual requests.
"There are so many such requests, I simply cannot respond to them individually. Please contact my colleagues at Drik for content. Thank you for your solidarity and support."
Half of the 44 boats in Global Sumud Flotilla intercepted by Israel
Commenting on the recent interception of flotilla boats, Alam wrote: "Of course the topic of discussion veers around the capture of the Sumud Flotilla boats by Israeli pirates in international waters. We still have a way to go to Gaza, so we are watching to see what will happen to us, and preparing accordingly."
He added that despite two-metre waves and a storm the previous night, conditions had since improved.
"The captain increased speed to try to stay ahead of the storm, which seems to have worked. We were passed sick bags, but didn't need to use them!"
"We will break the siege. Your presence and your solidarity mean more than you probably realise. Palestine will be free," Alam declared.
Shahidul Alam, who was jailed for 107 days in August 2018 after criticising the then Hasina government, has long been an outspoken voice on human rights and press freedom.
He had been tortured in custody, which authorities denied, and his detention sparked international condemnation.
In November 2018, Alam was released on bail. A month later, he was among the journalists featured in Time magazine's annual Person of the Year issue.
In April 2019, he told CNN, "I see myself as a citizen of an independent nation, and my constitution gives me rights. And I intend to exercise those rights, and I will continue to do so whether or not the regime tries to stop me. That's what I was doing before, that's what I'm continuing to do, and that's what I will keep on doing."
Alam, the founder of Drik has documented Bangladesh for decades and mentored generations of photographers.
