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The Bangladesh government has taken immediate action on the incident of assault on national cricketer Nayeem Hasan. According to the latest update, three police officers involved in Friday night’s incident have been suspended.
The harassment of a national team cricketer has sparked widespread controversy across Bangladesh. However, why the cricketer was harassed and taken to the police station is not clear. Along with suspending three police officers, a three-member investigation committee has also been formed to thoroughly investigate the matter.
Three alleged officers have been suspended
According to the latest media reports, sub-inspector Mohammad Shafiqul Islam Bhuiyan, constable Mohammad Russell Choudhary and an unnamed police operations management constable are the three police officers who have been suspended.
Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) Commissioner Shaukat Ali has assured that a proper investigation will be conducted. Ali also visited the house of the victim cricketer. On Saturday, CMP deputy commissioner Amirul Islam said the alleged officers, who were on duty at the time, were not following proper procedure during their operation.
“Initially it appears that the officers involved did not follow proper procedures during the operation. We will ensure that.” [Nayeem] Justice is served, and whoever is found responsible will be punished,” Amirul Islam told the media.
What happened to cricketer Nayeem Hasan?
It was alleged that Naeem Hasan was attacked when he was returning from Dhaka Airport to his home in Chattogram after his team, Prime Bank Cricket Club’s Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League match. While he was in a CNG-powered auto-rickshaw, police officers stopped the vehicle in Lalkhan Bazaar area and harassed Naeem Hasan.
If reports are to be believed, the alleged officials even grabbed the cricketer by the throat. Later they took Naeem Hasan to the police station in another vehicle.
According to the cricketer himself, “When the police took me to Khulshi police station, I appealed to them. Supporters also came with me to the police station from Lalkhan Bazaar that night.”
“When they put me in the CNG, I was very scared. If 100 to 120 supporters and locals had not been present, the incident could have been different. I especially want to thank them. When the police took me to Khulshi police station, I appealed to them. Supporters also came with me to the police station from Lalkhan Bazaar that night,” Naeem Hasan said in The Daily Star.
BCB chief has expressed a strong reaction to this incident
As the incident spread widely, cricketers from the Bangladesh national team and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) expressed disbelief. However, the BCB issued a more promising stance against such incidents where a cricketer was allegedly attacked by the police.
BCB chief Tamim Iqbal said in his official response, “From the moment Naeem called me, I along with other board directors tried to take all necessary steps immediately. We are in touch with all the concerned authorities and are also maintaining close communication with Naeem and his family.”
