A three-member investigation committee has been established to look into the alleged harassment of Nayeem Hasan, leading to the suspension of three police officers amid public outcry.
As reported by ESPNcricinfo, the suspended officers include sub-inspector Mohammad Shafiqul Islam Bhuiyan, constable Mohammad Rasel Chowdhury, and an unnamed operations management constable. Additionally, Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) Commissioner Shawkat Ali visited Nayeem’s home, assuring that appropriate action would follow based on the investigation.
“When they put me into the CNG, I was very frightened. If the 100 to 120 supporters and local people had not been there, the incident could have turned out differently. I want to especially thank them. When the police took me to Khulshi Police Station, I appealed to them. The supporters came from Lalkhan Bazar to the police station with me that night,” Nayeem told The Daily Star, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
After the incident became public, several notable Bangladeshi cricketers, including Mushfiqur Rahim and Litton Das, voiced their shock and concern. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh quickly released statements condemning the event and demanding accountability for those involved.
“Whatever needs to be done from here on will also be done by the BCB. We are always with Nayeem and other cricketers,” BCB president Tamim Iqbal stated.
Nayeem claimed he was attacked by police in Chattogram on June 13 while returning home from Dhaka airport. Earlier that day, he had come back from Savar, where his team, Prime Bank Cricket Club, had played a Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League match, in which he did not participate.
Nayeem reported that police officers stopped the CNG auto-rickshaw he was riding near Lalkhan Bazar. He stated that they were aggressive from the start, and he did not understand their behavior. Nayeem alleged that the officers grabbed him by the throat and forced him into another auto-rickshaw, intending to take him to a police station. Although bystanders told the officers that he was a national cricketer, their pleas were disregarded.