Renowned Bangladeshi photographer and human rights activist Shahidul Alam is set to return to Dhaka early Saturday (October 11) after being released by Israeli authorities on Friday, according to Chief Adviser’s Press Wing.

Alam, who had been detained while participating in a Free Palestine campaign, is scheduled to arrive at 4:55 am on a Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul, the press wing said.

Earlier on Friday, he landed in Istanbul around 2:30 pm (local time), where he was received by Bangladesh Consul General Mohammad Mizanur Rahman.

Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Türkiye, Md Amanur Rahman, confirmed that Alam’s flight to Dhaka was set to depart Istanbul at 6:45 pm local time the same day.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus expressed gratitude to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an for his government’s assistance in ensuring Alam’s release and safe repatriation.

Following Alam’s detention, Bangladesh’s embassies in Jordan, Egypt, and Türkiye were directed to coordinate with their respective foreign ministries and take swift diplomatic measures to secure his freedom, the press wing added.