DHAKA (Reuters): The ancestral home of former Bangladesh cricket captain Shakib Al Hasan was attacked on Wednesday after he participated in a virtual media event featuring ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, police said.
According to authorities, a group of attackers smashed windows and hurled bricks and two petrol bombs at the residence in Magura, about 170 kilometres southwest of Dhaka. A fire broke out on the upper floor of the house, which was unoccupied at the time. No injuries were reported.
Reuters was unable to reach Shakib for comment.
What Triggered the Attack?
The attack occurred hours after Shakib, a former Awami League lawmaker, joined an online event organised by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia in New Delhi. During the event, Sheikh Hasina made her first public media appearance since being removed from power in 2024.
In her address, Hasina pledged to return to Bangladesh despite facing a death sentence in absentia.
Shakib, who was elected to parliament on an Awami League ticket in January 2024, has remained outside Bangladesh since the student-led uprising that toppled Hasina’s government.
What Is the Political Context?
During the virtual event, Hasina said she intended to return to Bangladesh in December and called for the ban on the Awami League to be lifted.
Bangladesh’s foreign ministry condemned the media appearance, describing it as “an affront to the sovereignty of Bangladesh” and warning that hosting the event from India could negatively affect bilateral relations.
Hasina has been living in New Delhi since August 2024 after fleeing Bangladesh. Dhaka has requested her extradition, while India has said the request is being processed under its legal procedures.
Shakib is currently facing multiple investigations in Bangladesh, including allegations of murder, embezzlement, fraud and money laundering.