Renowned photographer and human rights activist Shahidul Alam returned home from Turkey early Saturday following his release from an Israeli prison.
Shahidul was freed from Israeli custody on Friday and travelled to Istanbul on a Turkish Airlines flight.
He arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka around 4:45am.
Speaking after his return, Shahidul said, “The love of the people of Bangladesh made it possible for me to come back. But we must remember that the people of Gaza are still not free. They continue to face attacks and persecution. Our work is not over yet.”
Shahidul Alam set to return to Dhaka early Saturday
His remarks were shared on the Facebook page of Drik, the independent media organisation he heads.
Shahidul expressed gratitude to the governments of Bangladesh and Turkey for helping secure his release.
“We need a thousand more flotillas like ours until Palestine is free,” he said.
Shahidul Alam arrives in Turkey after release from Israel captivity
The Drik managing director had joined a Gaza-bound flotilla organised by Freedom Flotilla Coalition to demand an end to Israel’s blockade and atrocities in Gaza.
Shahidul Alam’s release from Israel comes two days after he and scores of others were detained by Israeli naval forces that intercepted a group of vessels that attempted to break Israel’s siege on Gaza.
Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus thanked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for his cooperation in securing the release of Shahidul Alam and his repatriation from Israel.