DHAKA: Former Bangladesh cricket captain Shakib Al Hasan’s ancestral home was attacked by a mob after he participated in former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s first public media appearance since her removal from power in 2024, according to police.
The incident took place on Wednesday in Magura, around 170 kilometres southwest of Dhaka, where a group of unidentified individuals vandalised Shakib’s residence by smashing windows and hurling petrol bombs at the property.
Police said the attack sparked a fire on the upper floor of the house. Fortunately, the residence was unoccupied at the time of the incident, and no injuries were reported.
The violence came just hours after Shakib, a former lawmaker from the Awami League, took part in a virtual event organised by the Foreign Correspondents Club of South Asia (FCCSA) in New Delhi.
During the online event, Sheikh Hasina addressed supporters for the first time since being ousted from office following the 2024 student-led uprising. In her remarks, she reiterated her intention to return to Bangladesh in December despite facing multiple legal cases and a death sentence handed down in absentia.
Shakib was elected to Bangladesh’s parliament as an Awami League candidate in the January 2024 general elections. Since the political unrest that led to Hasina’s removal from power, the former cricket star has remained outside Bangladesh.
Authorities have launched multiple investigations against Shakib, including allegations related to murder, embezzlement, fraud, and money laundering. He has not publicly responded to the accusations.
The attack on Shakib’s home reflects the continuing political tensions in Bangladesh, where divisions remain deep following the change in government. Security officials have begun investigating the incident, while no arrests had been announced at the time of reporting.
The latest development comes amid renewed political uncertainty after Sheikh Hasina signaled her intention to return to Bangladesh, a move that has intensified debate and heightened tensions between her supporters and opponents.
