Photographer Shahidul Alam Freed, Returns to Dhaka

Renowned photographer and activist Shahidul Alam, who was freed by Israeli authorities on Friday after participating in a Free Palestine campaign, is set to return to Dhaka at 4:55 am tomorrow. Earlier in the day, Shahidul landed in Istanbul on a Turkish Airlines flight around 2:30 pm local time. He was welcomed by Bangladesh Consul General in Istanbul Mohammad Mizanur Rahman, according to a statement from the chief adviser’s press office. Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Turkey Md Amanur Rahman mentioned that Shahidul’s flight back to Dhaka was slated to leave Istanbul at 6:45 pm local time on Friday. Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus conveyed his appreciation to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for his assistance in ensuring Shahidul Alam’s release and safe return from Israel. Following Shahidul Alam’s detention by Israeli authorities, Bangladesh embassies in Jordan, Egypt, and Turkey were directed to liaise with the respective foreign ministries and take immediate diplomatic actions to secure his release.