Aid convoy from Bangladesh, global partners reaches Gaza

As smoke still lingers over Gaza and the shadow of famine deepens, a powerful symbol of global solidarity has arrived. 

A major humanitarian aid convoy, including significant contributions from Bangladeshi individuals and organisations, entered the besieged territory on Sunday afternoon through the Rafah El-Bri crossing on the Egypt-Palestine border.

The convoy, organised by the Zakat and Sadaqah Foundation of Al-Azhar, carried 15 large containers filled with essential supplies. 

These were donated by charities and humanitarian groups from more than 85 countries, including prominent Bangladeshi organisations such as the One Ummah Foundation, BM Shabab Foundation, Bangladesh-Palestine Friendship Organisation, ‘Mojo’, Halima Noor Family, Dhaka Arsin Gate Shahi Jame Mosque, and Al Ihsan Network.

The trucks, flying the red-green flags of Bangladesh, were met with hope by aid workers on the ground, each container packed with life-saving items, including over 1,000 furnished tents, food supplies such as rice, pulses, dry and canned goods, and potatoes, purified drinking water, baby milk and diapers, medical and healthcare supplies, as well as clothing, blankets, and essential household items.

Huzaifa Khan, Chairman of the One World Ummah Foundation, told this correspondent: “This convoy is not just about goods – it’s a message of love, compassion, and brotherhood from the people of Bangladesh and the global Muslim community. It carries the light of hope to those who have endured unimaginable suffering.”

The mission was launched under the directive of Dr Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and one of Egypt’s highest religious authorities, in response to the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Khan added: “The people of Gaza have been under siege for nearly two years, facing extreme hunger and deprivation. In the north, famine has reached levels never seen before. This convoy is a direct response to that emergency.”

Al-Azhar described the initiative as both a humanitarian necessity and a moral imperative. “This effort will not only provide food and shelter to the starving,” a spokesperson said, “but will also stand as a shining example of international solidarity, compassion, and shared humanity.”

The arrival of the aid comes at a critical time, as access to food, clean water, and medical care remains severely limited in many parts of Gaza. With commercial crossings still largely closed, such humanitarian convoys are often the only lifeline for thousands of displaced families.

The contribution from Bangladesh, though from non-governmental sources, reflects the deep empathy and solidarity felt by its people toward the Palestinian cause. From mosques to media platforms, fundraising campaigns have gained momentum across the country in recent months.

As the red-green flagged trucks disappeared into Gaza’s war-scarred landscape, they carried more than supplies, they carried the promise that the world has not forgotten.