Government Closely Monitoring Global Sumud Flotilla for Gaza, Focus on Shahidul Alam's Safety: Yunus

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus stated today that the government is closely tracking the status and safety of participants in the historic Global Sumud Flotilla, a civilian-led maritime initiative challenging Israel's blockade of Gaza.

“We are closely monitoring the status and safety of those participating in the historic flotilla for Gaza, especially world-renowned photographer and human rights activist Shahidul Alam,” Yunus said in a statement this evening.

Yunus praised Alam's resolve, likening it to his 107-day imprisonment in 2018 for protesting injustice under the Hasina government: “He stands today as a shining embodiment of the unyielding spirit of Bangladesh.”

The Chief Adviser reiterated his UNGA address last month: “The indifference to human pain is destroying the progress humanity has built through decades of struggle. Nowhere is this tragedy more visible than in Gaza. Children are dying of hunger. Civilians are being killed without distinction. Entire neighborhoods, including hospitals and schools, are being wiped from the map.”

“We stand with Shahidul Alam and with Gaza—now and forever,” Yunus affirmed.

The Global Sumud Flotilla, launched mid-2025 by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and allies, involved over 40 vessels with activists from 44 countries carrying aid like food and medical supplies to break the siege. Israel intercepted most by October 3, detaining 461 of the activists. Alam, trailing to aid migrants, vowed to continue despite risks.

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman hailed Alam's participation as a symbol of Bangladesh's anti-oppression stance. The flotilla, named for "sumud" (steadfastness), highlights Gaza's crisis amid over 65,000 deaths and famine.