Petrol bomb attack at Shakib Al Hasan's home hours after joining Hasina's presser
Former Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan's home in Magura was attacked and stones were thrown by unidentified individuals on Wednesday evening. The incident came hours after Shakib took part in former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina's press conference.
The house of former Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan came under a petrol bomb attack in Bangladesh's Magura district on Wednesday evening, hours after he participated in a media interaction addressed virtually by ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from Delhi. Police said unidentified miscreants vandalised the property and attempted to set it on fire, while local reports claimed petrol bombs were also thrown during the attack.
The incident took place around 8:45 pm (local time) at Shakib's residence. Residents reported hearing loud explosion-like sounds, described as firecrackers, during the attack. Local media reported that petrol bombs were also thrown at the house. However, police have not officially confirmed the use of petrol bombs.
A video posted by Hasina's party, Awami League, showed firecracker-like sounds outside the 39-year-old cricketer's residence. Shakib is a former Awami League MP from the Magura-1 constituency.
According to police, several unidentified individuals threw bricks and stones at the house, shattering windows before attempting to set the property ablaze. No injuries were reported.
"Several miscreants threw brick chips at the house and vandalised windows. They also tried to set the house on fire," Magura Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abdullah Al Mamun told The Daily Star.
Police personnel were deployed outside the residence after the incident. The identities of the attackers and the motive behind the assault are yet to be established.
ATTACK FOLLOWED HASINA'S VIRTUAL INTERACTION
The attack came after Shakib joined a media interaction addressed virtually by Sheikh Hasina from Delhi. The event was organised by the Foreign Correspondents' Club of South Asia.
During the interaction, Hasina defended her government's handling of the July-August 2024 unrest and claimed the student-led uprising that led to her ouster was a "meticulously designed" regime-change operation rather than a spontaneous protest.
POLITICAL TENSIONS REMAIN HIGH
The incident comes amid continuing political tensions in Bangladesh following Hasina's removal from power.
Ahead of the media interaction, leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party (NCP) publicly criticised the event and reportedly warned media organisations against carrying or broadcasting Hasina's remarks.
Awami League leaders and supporters have alleged that the attack on Shakib's residence was linked to his participation in the event. However, Bangladeshi authorities have not established any connection between the attack and the media interaction, and police have not identified those responsible.
SHAKIB'S POLITICAL LINKS
Widely regarded as one of Bangladesh's greatest all-round cricketers, Shakib has remained a polarising figure because of his political association with the Awami League.
He was elected as a MP from the Magura-1 constituency in the 2024 general election on an Awami League ticket, a poll that opposition parties criticised as lacking genuine competition.
Following the political upheaval in August 2024, the Awami League was barred from political activities in Bangladesh. In her address on Wednesday, Hasina called for the ban on her party to be lifted and reiterated her intention to return to Bangladesh despite facing multiple legal challenges.
Shakib's participation in the event underscored his continued association with the former ruling party at a time of heightened political tensions.
YET TO RETURN HOME
Shakib has not returned to Bangladesh since the fall of the Hasina government.
Multiple criminal cases have been filed against him following the political transition, including a murder case in which he has been named among several accused. The former Bangladesh captain has repeatedly said he is willing to return and face the legal process if he is assured of his personal safety and protection from harassment.
The veteran all-rounder has continued to play franchise cricket while living with his family in the United States. He has featured in tournaments including the Caribbean Premier League and Lanka Premier League, while the Bangladesh Cricket Board has previously indicated that the door remains open for his return to the national team.
The house of former Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan came under a petrol bomb attack in Bangladesh's Magura district on Wednesday evening, hours after he participated in a media interaction addressed virtually by ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from Delhi. Police said unidentified miscreants vandalised the property and attempted to set it on fire, while local reports claimed petrol bombs were also thrown during the attack.
The incident took place around 8:45 pm (local time) at Shakib's residence. Residents reported hearing loud explosion-like sounds, described as firecrackers, during the attack. Local media reported that petrol bombs were also thrown at the house. However, police have not officially confirmed the use of petrol bombs.
A video posted by Hasina's party, Awami League, showed firecracker-like sounds outside the 39-year-old cricketer's residence. Shakib is a former Awami League MP from the Magura-1 constituency.
According to police, several unidentified individuals threw bricks and stones at the house, shattering windows before attempting to set the property ablaze. No injuries were reported.
"Several miscreants threw brick chips at the house and vandalised windows. They also tried to set the house on fire," Magura Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abdullah Al Mamun told The Daily Star.
Police personnel were deployed outside the residence after the incident. The identities of the attackers and the motive behind the assault are yet to be established.
ATTACK FOLLOWED HASINA'S VIRTUAL INTERACTION
The attack came after Shakib joined a media interaction addressed virtually by Sheikh Hasina from Delhi. The event was organised by the Foreign Correspondents' Club of South Asia.
During the interaction, Hasina defended her government's handling of the July-August 2024 unrest and claimed the student-led uprising that led to her ouster was a "meticulously designed" regime-change operation rather than a spontaneous protest.
POLITICAL TENSIONS REMAIN HIGH
The incident comes amid continuing political tensions in Bangladesh following Hasina's removal from power.
Ahead of the media interaction, leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party (NCP) publicly criticised the event and reportedly warned media organisations against carrying or broadcasting Hasina's remarks.
Awami League leaders and supporters have alleged that the attack on Shakib's residence was linked to his participation in the event. However, Bangladeshi authorities have not established any connection between the attack and the media interaction, and police have not identified those responsible.
SHAKIB'S POLITICAL LINKS
Widely regarded as one of Bangladesh's greatest all-round cricketers, Shakib has remained a polarising figure because of his political association with the Awami League.
He was elected as a MP from the Magura-1 constituency in the 2024 general election on an Awami League ticket, a poll that opposition parties criticised as lacking genuine competition.
Following the political upheaval in August 2024, the Awami League was barred from political activities in Bangladesh. In her address on Wednesday, Hasina called for the ban on her party to be lifted and reiterated her intention to return to Bangladesh despite facing multiple legal challenges.
Shakib's participation in the event underscored his continued association with the former ruling party at a time of heightened political tensions.
YET TO RETURN HOME
Shakib has not returned to Bangladesh since the fall of the Hasina government.
Multiple criminal cases have been filed against him following the political transition, including a murder case in which he has been named among several accused. The former Bangladesh captain has repeatedly said he is willing to return and face the legal process if he is assured of his personal safety and protection from harassment.
The veteran all-rounder has continued to play franchise cricket while living with his family in the United States. He has featured in tournaments including the Caribbean Premier League and Lanka Premier League, while the Bangladesh Cricket Board has previously indicated that the door remains open for his return to the national team.
The house of former Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan came under a petrol bomb attack in Bangladesh's Magura district on Wednesday evening, hours after he participated in a media interaction addressed virtually by ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from Delhi. Police said unidentified miscreants vandalised the property and attempted to set it on fire, while local reports claimed petrol bombs were also thrown during the attack.
The incident took place around 8:45 pm (local time) at Shakib's residence. Residents reported hearing loud explosion-like sounds, described as firecrackers, during the attack. Local media reported that petrol bombs were also thrown at the house. However, police have not officially confirmed the use of petrol bombs.
A video posted by Hasina's party, Awami League, showed firecracker-like sounds outside the 39-year-old cricketer's residence. Shakib is a former Awami League MP from the Magura-1 constituency.
According to police, several unidentified individuals threw bricks and stones at the house, shattering windows before attempting to set the property ablaze. No injuries were reported.
"Several miscreants threw brick chips at the house and vandalised windows. They also tried to set the house on fire," Magura Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abdullah Al Mamun told The Daily Star.
Police personnel were deployed outside the residence after the incident. The identities of the attackers and the motive behind the assault are yet to be established.
ATTACK FOLLOWED HASINA'S VIRTUAL INTERACTION
The attack came after Shakib joined a media interaction addressed virtually by Sheikh Hasina from Delhi. The event was organised by the Foreign Correspondents' Club of South Asia.
During the interaction, Hasina defended her government's handling of the July-August 2024 unrest and claimed the student-led uprising that led to her ouster was a "meticulously designed" regime-change operation rather than a spontaneous protest.
POLITICAL TENSIONS REMAIN HIGH
The incident comes amid continuing political tensions in Bangladesh following Hasina's removal from power.
Ahead of the media interaction, leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party (NCP) publicly criticised the event and reportedly warned media organisations against carrying or broadcasting Hasina's remarks.
Awami League leaders and supporters have alleged that the attack on Shakib's residence was linked to his participation in the event. However, Bangladeshi authorities have not established any connection between the attack and the media interaction, and police have not identified those responsible.
SHAKIB'S POLITICAL LINKS
Widely regarded as one of Bangladesh's greatest all-round cricketers, Shakib has remained a polarising figure because of his political association with the Awami League.
He was elected as a MP from the Magura-1 constituency in the 2024 general election on an Awami League ticket, a poll that opposition parties criticised as lacking genuine competition.
Following the political upheaval in August 2024, the Awami League was barred from political activities in Bangladesh. In her address on Wednesday, Hasina called for the ban on her party to be lifted and reiterated her intention to return to Bangladesh despite facing multiple legal challenges.
Shakib's participation in the event underscored his continued association with the former ruling party at a time of heightened political tensions.
YET TO RETURN HOME
Shakib has not returned to Bangladesh since the fall of the Hasina government.
Multiple criminal cases have been filed against him following the political transition, including a murder case in which he has been named among several accused. The former Bangladesh captain has repeatedly said he is willing to return and face the legal process if he is assured of his personal safety and protection from harassment.
The veteran all-rounder has continued to play franchise cricket while living with his family in the United States. He has featured in tournaments including the Caribbean Premier League and Lanka Premier League, while the Bangladesh Cricket Board has previously indicated that the door remains open for his return to the national team.
