Three police officers suspended after alleged harassment of Bangladesh cricketer Nayeem Hasan

A three-member investigation committee has been formed to examine the alleged harassment of Nayeem Hasan, while three police officers have been suspended following widespread criticism of the incident.

According to ESPNcricinfo, the suspended officers are sub-inspector Mohammad Shafiqul Islam Bhuiyan, constable Mohammad Rasel Chowdhury, and a police operations management constable whose identity has not been disclosed. Meanwhile, Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) Commissioner Shawkat Ali visited Nayeem’s residence and stated that appropriate action would be taken against the officers based on the findings of 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 present, the incident could have turned out differently. I would especially like to thank them. 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,” said Nayeem to The Daily Star as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

Once details of the incident became public, several prominent Bangladesh cricketers, including Mushfiqur Rahim and Litton Das, expressed their shock and concern. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh swiftly issued statements condemning the incident and calling for those responsible to be held accountable.

“Whatever needs to be done from here on will also be done by the BCB. We are always with Nayeem and other cricketers,” said BCB president Tamim Iqbal.

Speaking about the incident, Nayeem alleged that he was assaulted by police in Chattogram on the night of June 13 while returning home from Dhaka airport. Earlier that day, he had travelled back from Savar, near Dhaka, where his team, Prime Bank Cricket Club, had played a Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League match in which he did not feature.

According to Nayeem, police officers stopped the CNG-run auto-rickshaw he was travelling in near the city’s Lalkhan Bazar area. He claimed the officers were hostile from the outset, although he was unaware of the reason for their behaviour. Nayeem alleged that the officers grabbed him by the throat and forced him into another auto-rickshaw with the intention of taking him to a police station. He further stated that bystanders informed the officers that he was a national cricketer, but their appeals were ignored.