A group of Jahangirnagar University (JU) students formed a human chain demanding the immediate release of Bangladeshi photographer and writer Shahidul Alam, who was reportedly abducted by Israeli forces after the Gaza-bound aid ship 'Global Sumud Flotilla' was intercepted by the Israeli navy.
The demonstration took place at around 4 PM in premises of the university’s Shaheed Minar.
During the event, participants strongly condemned Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza and called for the unconditional release of Shahidul Alam along with all other detainees captured during the flotilla mission.
Protesters carried placards and chanted slogans such as “Free Free Palestine”, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”, “Stop genocide in Gaza”, “Justice, justice, we want justice”, and “Let truth speak free, free Shahidul Alam”.
Addressing the gathering, Zia Uddin Ayan, a student of the 50th batch of Government and Politics Department, said, "For years, the occupying Israeli forces have been committing genocide against the freedom-loving people of Palestine, killing innocent children. When global activists joined the Freedom Flotilla to deliver humanitarian aid, Israeli forces detained them."
He also said that Bangladeshi photographer Shahidul Alam was among those aboard.
"We urge the interim government to take immediate diplomatic steps to secure his release and bring him back to Bangladesh," he added.
Farhana Binte Jigar Farina, a student of the 50th batch of the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), said, "We are witnessing barbaric atrocities by the occupying Israeli forces against our Palestinian brothers, while the Muslim world remains shamefully silent."
She also said that the act of Muslim world is like cowards when our Palestinian brothers are being massacred."
"We demand the immediate release of Shahidul Alam and all others held by Israel," she added.
JHJ/AM
