On Board the Sumud Flotilla: Shahidul Alam Says Jail Days Prepared Him for Harsh Voyage
- Publish : 01:30:51 pm, Thursday, 2 October 2025
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Shahidul Alam waving Bangladeshi flag on the lower deck of the Global Sumud Flotilla ship ‘Conscience’ on 1 October 2025 | Photo: Collected
Renowned Bangladeshi photographer and activist Shahidul Alam, now aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla en route to Gaza, has said his time in remand and jail in Bangladesh prepared him to endure the harsh conditions of life on the ship.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday (October 2), Alam wrote, “This is the choice sleeping area in the ship Conscience. As the last person to board, I had no space here. I had slept on the open deck last night, but with the storm outside, that option was 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!”
He added that goodwill messages and prayers had been pouring in from across the world. “I am sorry I am unable to respond to all of you, but I have passed your greetings and prayers to my comrades. It makes a world of difference,” Alam wrote.
Speaking to journalists, Alam apologised for not being able to respond to individual requests, citing the overwhelming number of messages. He urged the media to contact his colleagues at Drik for further content.
Commenting on the recent interception of flotilla boats, he said: 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.
Despite facing two-metre waves and a storm the previous night, Alam said 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!
Alam declared that the flotilla remained resolute in its mission. We will break the siege. Your presence and your solidarity mean more than you probably realise. Palestine will be free, he said.
Shahidul Alam, founder of the Drik photo agency, was jailed for 107 days in August 2018 after criticising the then Hasina government. He has long been an outspoken voice on human rights and press freedom.
During his detention, Alam was tortured in custody- allegations the authorities denied – sparking widespread international condemnation. He was released on bail in November 2018.
A month later, Time magazine featured him in its annual Person of the Year issue, recognising journalists who faced persecution. In 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… That’s what I was doing before, that’s what I’m continuing to do, and that’s what I will keep on doing.”
For decades, Alam has documented Bangladesh through his lens and mentored generations of photographers, leaving an indelible mark on the country’s cultural and activist landscape.
