Bangladeshi spinner Nayeem Hasan accuses a police officer in Chattogram of assault

Bangladesh spinner Nayeem Hasan claimed that he was assaulted by police in Chattogram on Friday night, sparking strong reactions from the Bangladesh cricket fraternity and a demand from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) for a thorough investigation into the incident.

According to reports, the 25-year-old cricketer was returning home from the Dhaka airport after Prime Bank Cricket Club’s Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League match in Savar, which he did not play, when the incident occurred. Nayeem was traveling in a CNG autorickshaw when the police stopped the vehicle near Chattogram’s Lalkhan Bazar area.

Nayeem claimed that the police were aggressive without explaining why they stopped him. He claimed that the police grabbed him by the neck and forced him into another autorickshaw to take him to the police station. Despite passers-by informing the police that he was a Bangladeshi national cricketer, Nayeem said the police ignored their pleas.

“I repeatedly told them who I was, but they refused to listen to me,” Nayeem told reporters later. “The police beat me indiscriminately with sticks and plastic pipes. When I later presented myself at the police station, the senior officer told me to keep my eyes down when I spoke.”

Nayeem questioned the policemen’s behavior, adding, “If they were really policemen, why did they try to put me in a CNG instead of a police vehicle? I want a fair investigation and justice in the whole incident.”

Deputy Commissioner of Chattogram Metropolitan Police Amirul Islam said authorities have taken cognizance of the allegations and vowed to take action against anyone found guilty.

“Initially, it appears that the officers involved did not follow proper procedures during the operation,” Amirul told local media. “We will ensure that he is brought to justice and whoever is found responsible will be punished.”

Nayeem was released in the early hours of Saturday and returned home.

The incident drew widespread condemnation from the Bangladeshi cricket community. Seasoned wicket-taker Mushfiqur Rahim expressed his support for Nayeem, calling the alleged attack “completely unacceptable” and demanding a fair investigation.

The BCB also issued a statement on Saturday expressing “deep concern” over the reported harassment and abuse of a national cricket team player.

“The board strongly condemns the unacceptable and inappropriate behavior towards the player and views the matter with the utmost seriousness. Such treatment of a national athlete is deeply regrettable and requires immediate attention,” the statement read.

The council further called for a “thorough and impartial investigation” and urged the relevant authorities to take appropriate action against those responsible.

The Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh also demanded strict action against those involved in the alleged harassment.

Nayeem, who has played 14 Tests for Bangladesh since his debut in 2018, was recently named in the country’s 15-man squad for the upcoming one-off Test against Zimbabwe later this month.

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Issued by:

Saurabh Kumar

Published on:

13 Jun 2026 11:38 IST