Nayeem alleges police assault, three officers withdrawn

Bangladesh off-spinner Nayeem Hasan has alleged that he was physically assaulted by police in Chattogram after being stopped on his way home from Dhaka, triggering strong reactions from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the Cricketers' Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB), both of whom have demanded a thorough investigation.

The incident allegedly took place on Friday night near Lalkhan Bazar after Nayeem returned from Savar, where he had been playing in the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League.

Speaking to local media, Nayeem said that police stopped the CNG auto-rickshaw he was travelling in around 11:25pm and treated him as a suspect despite his attempts to identify himself.

"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,'" he said.

The 26-year-old off-spinner alleged that officers then forcibly took him into a vehicle and assaulted him despite identifying himself as a national cricketer.

"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," Nayeem said.

"There were two police officers and another man wearing a panjabi. People gathered there and told them I was a national cricketer, but they kept beating me," he added.

He further alleged that he faced 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,'" he said.

Nayeem later said that he was able to seek help after regaining access to his mobile phone at the police station, contacting former BCB president Tamim Iqbal and director Israfil Khosru. He also underwent medical examination at a hospital following the incident.

Following the allegations, three police personnel, including sub-inspector Shafiqul Islam, were withdrawn and attached to police lines. Khulshi Police Station officer-in-charge Arifur Rahman confirmed that Shafiqul, constable Russell and another Police Operations Management (POM) constable had been removed from duty pending investigation.

In response, the BCB said that it was “deeply concerned” over the alleged harassment and abuse of the national cricketer, calling for a “thorough and impartial investigation” and urging authorities to take appropriate action against those responsible.

The board also confirmed that its medical department team has been sent to Chattogram to check on Nayeem and monitor his condition, while maintaining close contact with his family and local authorities.

CWAB also condemned the incident, urging strict action against all officers involved. CWAB president Mohammad Mithun said that the matter was being handled at the highest levels, adding that BCB officials, including Tamim and Khosru, had already discussed the issue with authorities.

He said that the Home Ministry had also assured a strict investigation, while those responsible “will not be spared” and will face action following the ongoing inquiry.