Shakib Al Hasan Implicated in Murder Case Amidst Bangladesh Political Turmoil
Bangladesh cricket all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has been named as an accused in a murder case stemming from the ongoing protests in the country. The case was filed by Rafiqul Islam, whose son Rubel was killed during a rally on August 7. Rubel was reportedly shot in the chest and abdomen and succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.
The case, filed at the Adabor police station in Dhaka, lists Shakib as the 28th accused and popular Bangladeshi actor Ferdous Ahmed as the 55th accused. Both Shakib and Ahmed are former Awami League MPs in the parliament. Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 154 others are also named in the case, along with around 400-500 unidentified persons.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has appointed former skipper Faruque Ahmed as its new president following the resignation of Nazmul Hassan, a close ally of Hasina. Hassan, who also served as sports minister during Hasina’s 15-year rule, resigned from his BCB post.
The protests in Bangladesh erupted over student-led demonstrations against Hasina’s rule. Over 450 people were killed during the month-long unrest, leading to Hasina’s resignation and subsequent departure from the country.
Faruque, who briefly captained Bangladesh in the 1994 ICC Trophy and played seven ODIs, has been elected by the BCB’s directors and has taken charge immediately. He previously held the position of national chief selector from 2005 to 2014.
The murder case against Shakib and the political turmoil in Bangladesh have cast a shadow over the country’s cricket scene. The BCB is yet to comment on the allegations against Shakib, who is one of the most prominent cricketers in the world.
