Renowned Bangladeshi photographer and human rights activist Shahidul Alam is set to join the international “Media Flotilla” heading toward Gaza, an initiative to challenge Israel’s blockade and what organizers describe as a deliberate information blackout.
Confirming the news on Saturday, Shahidul Alam’s wife Professor Rehnuma Ahmed said he is currently in New York and will travel to Italy on Sunday to board the flotilla, which is being coordinated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition. Drik, the institution founded by Shahidul Alam, announced that his participation will represent both Drik and Bangladesh in showing solidarity with Palestinians under siege.
The flotilla, launched at the end of August, brings together nearly 500 activists from around the world who are attempting to deliver relief supplies and draw global attention to Gaza’s worsening humanitarian crisis. Organizers call this particular mission a “Media Flotilla,” aimed at breaking the silence by documenting the situation and amplifying Palestinian voices.
Parvez Ahmed Rony, network coordinator of Drik, said Shahidul Alam’s role will be to highlight the struggle of Palestinians resisting occupation and to emphasize that Gaza’s isolation is not only physical but also informational. The convoy has already faced attacks at sea but continues its effort from European ports, determined to reach Gaza despite Israeli resistance.
Shahidul Alam has long been outspoken on the issue of Palestine. Last year, he returned an honorary doctorate from the University of Arts London in protest against Israeli aggression. His decision to join the flotilla, he said, is part of a moral responsibility to stand with the oppressed and to ensure their stories are not silenced.
