Bangladesh Cricketer Nayeem Hasan Claims Police Assault in Chattogram

Bangladesh cricketer Nayeem Hasan has reported that he was physically assaulted by police officers in Chattogram on Friday night while returning from Dhaka. According to a report by ESPNCricinfo, Nayeem was in an auto-rickshaw near Lalkhan Bazar after arriving at the airport when the incident occurred.

The cricketer alleged that police stopped his vehicle and acted aggressively towards him, even grabbing him by the throat in an attempt to transport him to a police station using another auto-rickshaw. Nayeem stated that bystanders attempted to inform the officers of his identity as a national cricketer, but their warnings were disregarded. "I repeatedly told them who I was, but they refused to listen," he recounted to the media.

He further described the assault, saying, "The police beat me indiscriminately with sticks and plastic pipes." Upon reaching the police station, Nayeem claimed that the officer in charge instructed him to lower his gaze while speaking. He questioned the officers' actions, asking, "If they were really police officers, why did they try to put me into a CNG (auto) instead of a police vehicle?" Nayeem has called for a fair investigation into the incident.

Released in the early hours of Saturday, Nayeem returned home, where he received support from fellow cricketers on social media, including senior player Mushfiqur Rahim. Rahim expressed his dismay, stating, "What happened to Nayeem is absolutely unacceptable. I protest this incident as a Bangladesh citizen. Nayeem, we are with you!"

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) also responded, expressing serious concern over the situation and demanding a "thorough and impartial investigation" into the reported assault. In their statement, they condemned the "unacceptable and inappropriate conduct" of the law enforcement officers involved and emphasized the need for accountability.

Nayeem Hasan is set to be part of Bangladesh's 15-member squad for the upcoming one-off Test against Zimbabwe later this month. Since his international debut in 2018, he has played 14 Test matches for the national team.