Two cops, including a sub-inspector (SI), have been withdrawn following allegations that Bangladesh national cricket team player Nayeem Hasan was assaulted after being forced out of an autorickshaw and later harassed at a police station in Chattogram.
A police source was also detained over the incident, Officer-in-Charge of Khulshi Police Station Arifur Rahman confirmed to Daily Sun at around 11:45am on Saturday.
He said SI Shafiqul Islam and Constable Russell involved in the operation had been immediately withdrawn from Khulshi Police Station and attached to the police lines.
“SI Shafiqul Islam did not inform me about the operation. I came to know of Nayeem’s identity only after he was brought to the police station. We apologised and respectfully requested him to leave the station. However, they said they would not leave until those responsible were punished. Later, a case was filed over the incident,” the OC added.
Earlier on Friday night, Bangladesh national team off-spinner Nayeem Hasan returned to Chattogram from Dhaka by air. While travelling home to the Chandgaon area of the port city in a CNG-run autorickshaw from the airport, the cricketer reportedly became the victim of an unexpected incident.
Describing the incident, Nayeem alleged that despite identifying himself as a national cricketer, police personnel grabbed him by the throat, pushed him and forced him into another CNG autorickshaw. He also alleged that police officers beat him with batons while a plainclothes source attacked him using a plastic pipe.
Nayeem said, “Due to a delayed flight from Dhaka, I arrived at Chattogram airport around 11:15pm. At about 11:25pm, I was returning home when several individuals suddenly stopped the autorickshaw under the Lalkhan Bazar flyover. Without identifying themselves, they ordered me to get out of the vehicle. They also snatched the vehicle documents from the driver. At one stage, they grabbed me by the throat and tried to force me into another CNG autorickshaw.”
“I asked why I was being taken away like that, but they gave no proper answer. Instead, I was physically assaulted. Later, I came to know that two of them were police officers. Another man in a white Punjabi was accompanying them, and he also assaulted me,” he added.
According to Nayeem, “I was only trying to call my father while they still had me by the throat. When I shouted, local people began gathering. Around 100 to 150 people assembled at the scene. Many protested after recognising me. I identified myself and showed my ID card, yet they continued calling me an ‘accused’ and instructed me not to speak.”
Nayeem further claimed, “The police later took me to Khulshi Police Station in a CNG autorickshaw. There, I was told to keep my eyes down while speaking. Later, after receiving a phone call, their behaviour suddenly changed and they asked me to sit down.”
The national cricketer said the incident had raised serious concerns about public safety.
“People recognised me, which is probably why I survived today. But if an ordinary citizen had been in my place, what would have happened to him? Nobody would even know where he was taken. If ordinary people are not safe even in the hands of law enforcement agencies, then this is extremely alarming,” he said.
Nayeem Hasan’s father, Mahbubul Alam, is a former councillor of Chattogram City Corporation and a BNP leader. He said, “After learning that police had taken my son away, I rushed to the police station. Initially, the duty officer did not even allow me to enter and asked me to wait at a distance. Later, amid protests by locals, I was finally allowed inside.”
“Even after learning that my son is a national team cricketer, police brought him to the station after brutally assaulting him. Even after his identity was confirmed at the station, the OC spoke to him disrespectfully. Later, after receiving phone calls from Tamim Iqbal and Israfil Khasru from Dhaka, the police softened their stance and admitted their mistake,” he added.
In response to the sensational incident, Deputy Commissioner of the Chattogram Metropolitan Police Md Amirul Islam told Daily Sun, “Police went to the scene following information regarding smuggling activities. However, it initially appears that proper procedures were not followed during the operation.”
“We are treating the matter with utmost importance. We are committed to ensuring justice for national team cricketer Nayeem Hasan and taking lawful action over the incident. Whoever is found involved, the police will follow a zero-tolerance policy,” he added.
