Three members of the Chattogram police force have been stood down while an internal investigation looks into the alleged assault of Bangladesh Test off-spinner Nayeem Hasan late on Friday night.
Sub-inspector Mohammad Shafiqul Islam Bhuiyan, constable Mohammad Rasel Chowdhury and a third, unnamed constable from the operations unit were formally suspended on Saturday. The Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) commissioner, Shawkat Ali, later visited Nayeem’s family home to apologise in person and confirmed that “proceedings” would follow once the facts were on the table.
“We will ensure that he [Nayeem] receives justice, and whoever is found responsible will be brought under punishment,” CMP deputy commissioner Amirul Islam told The Daily Sun. “It appears initially that the officers involved did not follow proper procedures during the operation.”
What happened?
Nayeem, back in Chattogram after travelling from Dhaka with Prime Bank Cricket Club – he did not play in their Dhaka Premier Division game earlier in the day – was heading home in a CNG-run auto-rickshaw. Near Lalkhan Bazar the vehicle was stopped by police. The 25-year-old says the officers were immediately aggressive, grabbed him by the throat and pushed him into another rickshaw before escorting him to Khulshi Police Station.
The bowler insists he was given no explanation. Passers-by tried to tell officers they were dealing with a national cricketer, but according to Nayeem those warnings were ignored. He was released in the early hours of Saturday after supporters gathered outside the station.
“When they put me into the CNG, I was very frightened. If the 100 to 120 supporters and local people had not been present, the incident could have turned out differently,” he told The Daily Star on Sunday. “When the police took me to Khulshi Police Station, I appealed to them. The supporters also came from Lalkhan Bazar to the police station with me that night.”
Cricket community reacts
News of the incident travelled quickly. Senior players such as Mushfiqur Rahim and Litton Das voiced shock on their social channels, while the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) released a short statement demanding a thorough inquiry. The Cricketers’ Welfare Association of Bangladesh echoed that call.
BCB president Tamim Iqbal, himself only months into the role, said: “Whatever needs to be done from here on will also be done by the BCB. We are always with Nayeem and other cricketers.”
Why it matters
Cricketers in Bangladesh are household names; the idea that one could be mishandled by police unsurprisingly struck a nerve. The affair comes at a delicate time for the national side, with a one-off Test in Zimbabwe later this month. Nayeem has been included in the 15-man squad and, fitness permitting, is expected to challenge for a place in the XI.
Early analysis
Policing experts note that the suspension of officers before a full inquiry is unusual, hinting at the pressure the force now feels. However, a suspension is not proof of guilt; the three-person committee still has to review body-camera footage, officers’ statements and testimony from witnesses. CMP sources indicate those interviews will begin early this week.
From a cricket perspective, the incident poses awkward questions about player security away from official duties. Domestic players regularly travel without escorts, often at odd hours, moving between club fixtures and family commitments. The Players’ Welfare Association has long argued for clearer protocols, especially when night travel is involved. Whether this case forces change remains to be seen.
Next steps
• The CMP committee is expected to file an initial report within seven days.
• Depending on that report, formal disciplinary hearings could follow.
• The BCB says it will monitor progress and offer legal support to Nayeem if requested.
For now, the off-spinner is trying to focus on cricket. He has logged 14 Tests since debuting in 2018 and, in the absence of the injured Mehidy Hasan Miraz, may find himself leading the spin attack against Zimbabwe. Friends say he is physically fine but “shaken”.
No criminal charges have yet been filed, either by Nayeem or against the officers. Legal experts point out that, under Bangladeshi law, the inquiry findings would guide any later prosecution.
A sobering week, then, for Bangladeshi cricket and policing alike: a reminder that high-profile players, however familiar their faces on television screens, remain vulnerable once the cameras are off.
