United News of Bangladesh

Renowned Bangladeshi photographer and human rights activist Shahidul Alam arrived in Istanbul on Friday afternoon following his release from Israeli custody. Bangladesh Consul General in Istanbul Mohammad Mizanur Rahman received him on his return from Israel by Turkish Airlines, according to a statement from the Chief Adviser’s Office. 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, said the Chief Adviser’s deputy press secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder. 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’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam on Wednesday demanded immediate release of Shahidul Alam, a world-renowned photographer and human rights activist 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," he said. "Our hearts and prayers are with Shahidul Alam," the Press Secretary said. False claims about Yunus-Trump photo exposed: Press Secretary In a Facebook post, he shared that the flotilla he is aboard has been intercepted at sea and that he and his fellow travelers have been “kidnapped by the Occupation Forces of Israel.” "The extraordinary courage and resilience that sustained Shahidul during his imprisonment under the Hasina government will once again carry him through this latest ordeal," said the Press Secretary. "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," he said. The global spotlight must remain fixed on the catastrophic loss of life, the relentless destruction and the devastated humanitarian landscape there. "This is not only a tragedy but a profound moral test for the international community, one that demands attention, accountability, and action," the Press Secretary added.  

Renowned Bangladeshi photographer and writer Shahidul Alam has claimed that he has been ‘kidnapped by the Occupation Forces of Israel’ while travelling by sea in their flotilla heading towards Gaza. In a video message circulating on social media, Shahidul said, “I am Shahidul Alam, a photographer and writer from Bangladesh. If you are seeing this video, we have been intercepted at sea and I have been kidnapped by the Occupation Forces of Israel, the country conducting genocide in Gaza with active collaboration and assistance of the USA and other western powers.” He went on to appeal to his ‘comrades and friends’ to continue fighting for the freedom of Palestine. Shahidul Alam, known internationally for his photography and activism, has long been vocal about human rights and press freedom issues, including the situation in Palestine. Further details about his whereabouts and the status of others reportedly travelling with him remain unclear. Meanwhile, Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), an international network of pro-Palestinian activist groups that organises civilian maritime missions, has confirmed that the Israeli forces have attacked its convoy of aid boats and seized several vessels en route to Gaza. Israeli forces intercept flotilla bound for Gaza, detain over 140 activists According to the FFC, Israeli forces first targeted The Conscience -- a vessel carrying 93 journalists, doctors, and activists before intercepting three smaller boats on Wednesday. The group said the passengers were “being held in unknown conditions.” Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on X that a raid on the flotilla had taken place. “Another futile attempt to breach the legal naval blockade and enter a combat zone ended in nothing. 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,” the ministry said. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim condemned the Israeli operation and called for the immediate release of Malaysian activists participating in the mission, reports Al Jazeera. Activists from Ireland, France, Denmark and several other countries were also part of the flotilla. Prof Yunus expresses solidarity with Shahidul Alam and Gaza The FFC said the boats were carrying ‘vital aid’ worth more than $110,000, including medicines, respiratory devices and nutritional supplies for Gaza’s hospitals. “The Israeli military has no legal jurisdiction over international waters,” the group wrote on Instagram. “Our flotilla poses no harm.” This marks the second interception in recent days. Earlier, Israeli forces stopped about 40 vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla, detaining over 450 activists who had sought to deliver aid to Gaza. Most of them, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, have since been deported. Several participants from that earlier convoy have alleged physical and psychological mistreatment during detention. French-Palestinian MEP Rima Hassan said she was ‘beaten’ by Israeli police, while American activist David Adler described being ‘stripped’, ‘zip-tied, ‘blindfolded’, and forced to pose for photos with Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

After entering the Palestinian time zone, Shahidul Alam, a Bangladeshi member of the global Sumud flotilla, almost all of whose boats have been intercepted by Israel, reaffirmed their determination to reach Gaza despite all obstacles. In a video message released on Friday, Alam said their boat had entered the Palestinian time zone. Of the nine boats in the flotilla, which are still not intercepted by Israel, the boat Alam is in is trailing behind but is expected to catch up with the rest and take the lead soon. “Since we will be in the leading position, our boat may be targeted by Israeli forces,” he said. “But we are prepared to take any risk and are committed to breaking through any illegal obstacles to reach Gaza.” Although carrying relief aid, Alam emphasized that their mission is primarily to break the illegal siege of Israel. “We are going not just with aid—we are going to break the Israeli siege,” he said. “We have the right to go to Palestine, to observe the situation, and inform the world.” “Carrying the love of Bangladesh:” Shahidul Alam departs to join Gaza-bound Media Flotilla In an English text message accompanying the video message, Alam, also a celebrated photographer, mentioned that his boat was carrying 96 people, including 82 representatives from the media and medical profession. Alam condemned the killing of civilians, journalists, and healthcare workers by Israeli forces. “Fourteen doctors from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) have been killed, yet we are still waiting to see how France will respond. So far, we have only seen words, no action,” he said. “This is not a time for talk. It is a time for action,” he added. “Even if some world leaders fail, we, as civilians, will do whatever we can.” He concluded by expressing gratitude to the public for support: “Your love and encouragement are our strength.”

The annual District Correspondents’ Conference of United News of Bangladesh (UNB) 2025 took place on Saturday at Cosmos Centre in Dhaka, focusing on neutrality in journalism and the evolving media landscape. Renowned photojournalist and educator Shahidul Alam inaugurated the daylong event with a session on photojournalism, emphasising accuracy, quality and creativity in capturing news images. Two-day fact-checking workshop concludes at UNB Alam, the founder of Drik Picture Library and Pathshala, also analysed photographs by both global and local photographers. UNB Emeritus Editor Enayetullah Khan underscored the agency’s steadfast commitment to neutrality, stating that despite transformations in Bangladesh's media landscape, UNB has remained unaffected. He highlighted that public trust in UNB is rooted in its dedication to factual reporting. UNB Executive Editor Nahar Khan welcomed the participants and discussed the evolving challenges and opportunities in journalism. She stressed the importance of integrity and innovation in the profession, citing examples of impactful reporting that prompted swift government action. The conference featured sessions on environmental reporting, fact-checking, media law and discussions with newsroom members and district correspondents. Among the notable speakers were Michael Kugelman, Director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center; media personality Afsan Chowdhury; WildTeam CEO Dr Anwarul Islam; Supreme Court lawyer Zahirul Islam Musa; Cosmos Goup DMD Masud J. Khan; UNB Advisory Editor Farid Hossain; Editor Mahfuzur Rahman; and Dhaka Courier Executive Editor Shayan S Khan. Two-day fact-checking training begins at UNB Three UNB district correspondents—Hossain Malik (Chuadanga), Sheikh Didarul Alam (Khulna), and Saiful Islam Shilpi (Chattogram)—were recognised for their outstanding performance in 2024. Around 100 journalists from across the country, including Dhaka, attended the event.

The Appellate Division on Monday asked photographer Shahidul Alam to submit a regular petition to challenge the High Court’s rejection of his earlier appeal to strike down a case he faces under the ICT Act. The Apex court led by Chief Justice Hasan Foez Siddique passed the order during a hearing on the petition filed by Shahidul against the High Court’s order. The appeals court asked Shahidul, founder of Drik Gallery, to submit the petition within four weeks. READ: Shahidul Alam moves HC challenging legality of his case  On December 14,last year, the High Court bench of Justice JBM Hasan and Rajik Al Jalil rejected the writ filed by the photographer challenging the legality of the case and sought a stay on the trial proceedings of the case. After that the public prosecutor said there is no legal bar to precede the investigation in the case. On August 12 in 2018 the court directed to send Shahidul to jail over a case filed against him with Ramna Police Station for 'spreading propaganda' through Facebook during the student movement seeking safe roads.   READ: Finally, Shahidul Alam walks out of jail He was freed from jail on November 20, two days after the HC granted him bail. On March 14 in 2019 the HC stayed the investigation into the case for three months and issued a rule questioning the legality of the investigation in the case which the court rejected later on December 14.

The Committee to Protect Journalists named prominent Bangladeshi photo journalist Shahidul Alam and three others from Iran, Nigeria, and Russia for the 2020 International Press Freedom Awards.