Bangladesh off-spinner Nayeem Hasan has alleged that he was physically assaulted by police officers in Chattogram after being stopped on his way home from Dhaka, prompting strong condemnation from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the Cricketers’ Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB).
The incident allegedly took place on Friday night near Lalkhan Bazar after Nayeem returned from Savar, Dhaka, where he had been playing in the Dhaka Premier League.
Speaking to local media, Nayeem claimed he was travelling home in a CNG auto-rickshaw when police officers stopped the vehicle and immediately treated him as a suspect.
“I was coming from the airport in a CNG. Around 11:25 pm, police stopped the vehicle near Lalkhan Bazar,” said Nayeem.
“I got down and told them to check my bag. But one of the police officers told me, ‘Get into the vehicle, you are an accused person.'”
Nayeem alleged that officers then forced him into a vehicle and assaulted him despite repeated attempts to identify himself.
“They grabbed me by the throat and pushed me into the vehicle. When I tried to get out, two of them held me down while another kept hitting me with a pipe,” he said.
“There were two police officers and another man wearing a panjabi. At one point around 100 people gathered there and told them that I was national cricketer Nayeem Hasan, but they kept beating me. I identified myself, but it did not help,” he added.
Nayeem further alleged that he faced additional mistreatment after being taken to Khulshi Police Station.
“After bringing me to the station, the officer-in-charge told me, ‘Keep your eyes down. Talk with your eyes down.’ Later he received a phone call and then told me to sit down. The OC removed SI Shafique and the other two officers from the matter,” he said.
Nayeem said his mobile phone had initially been taken away and that he only managed to seek help after regaining access to it at the police station.
“They had kept my phone. After getting it back at the station, I called Tamim Bhai. Then Israfil Khosru Bhai called me and spoke to the OC. Afterwards I went to hospital and obtained a medical report. They assured me that justice would be served,” he said.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the BCB said it was “deeply concerned” by reports of harassment and abuse of the national cricketer by members of a law-enforcement agency.
“The Board strongly condemns the unacceptable and inappropriate conduct displayed towards the player and views the matter with the utmost seriousness,” the statement said.
“Such treatment of a national athlete is deeply regrettable and warrants immediate attention.”
The BCB said it expected a “thorough and impartial investigation” and urged authorities to take action against those responsible.
The board also confirmed that it has remained in close contact with Nayeem and his family while engaging with local authorities in Chattogram to ensure a proper resolution of the matter.
CWAB also condemned the incident and called on Chattogram Metropolitan Police to take strict action against every officer involved.
“Such an incident is unacceptable for any citizen of the country,” the players’ body said in a statement.
CWAB president Mohammad Mithun has already spoken with Nayeem and assured him that the country’s cricketers stand beside him.
