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A murder case has been filed against Bangladesh cricket team all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan. According to a report by the Dhaka Tribune. The case was initiated by Rafiqul Islam, whose son, Rubel and was killed on August 7 during the ongoing protests in Bangladesh. Rubel was reportedly part of a rally on Ring Road in Adabor. where he was shot in the chest and abdomen. Despite being rushed to the hospital, he succumbed to his injuries on the same day.
The case filed at the Adabor police station in Dhaka, lists Shakib as the 28th accused. Additionally Bangladesh actor Ferdous Ahmed is named as the 55th accused. Both Shakib and Ferdous were former Awami League MPs.
The case also names former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina along with 154 others. The report mentioned that around 400-500 unidentified individuals were also accused. In a related development, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) appointed former skipper Faruque Ahmed as president on Wednesday, following the resignation of Nazmul Hassan. Nazmul, who was a close ally of the ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and also served as sports minister during her 15-year tenure, resigned from his position.
BCB’s chief executive officer, Nizam Uddin Chowdhury, confirmed that Nazmul’s resignation request was accepted. Nazmul had been serving as BCB president since 2012 and was in the middle of his latest term, which was supposed to end in 2025. His departure comes amid a period of political unrest that saw more than 450 people killed during a month of student-led protests against Hasina’s government.
Faruque Ahmed, who has now taken over as BCB president, briefly captained Bangladesh during the 1994 ICC Trophy in Kenya and played in seven one-day internationals. He retired from international cricket after the 1999 World Cup and later served as the national chief selector from 2005 to 2014. Faruque was elected by the board’s directors and has assumed his new role immediately.
Murder Case Filed Against Shakib Al Hasan
A murder case has reportedly been filed against Bangladesh cricket star Shakib Al Hasan, according to the Dhaka Tribune. The case was lodged by Rafiqul Islam following the death of his son, Rubel, who was shot in the chest and abdomen during a rally on Ring Road in Adabor on August 7. Despite being rushed to the hospital, Rubel did not survive. Shakib has been named as the 28th accused in the case, which was filed at the Adabor police station in Dhaka.
Also implicated is popular Bangladeshi actor Ferdous Ahmed, who is listed as the 58th accused. Both Shakib and Ferdous are member of the Awami League. Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has also been named in the case, along with 400-500 unidentified individuals.
BangladeshCricket Board In Turmoil
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is currently grappling with the effects of the ongoing unrest in the country. Following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Nazmul Hassan, a close associate of Hasina and long-serving president of the BCB, has stepped down from his position. Nazmul’s tenure, which spanned around 15 years, came to an end amidst the political turmoil.
In response, the BCB has appointed former Bangladesh captain Faruque Ahmed as the new president of the cricket board. Upon taking on the role, Ahmed expressed his commitment to identifying and addressing the weaknesses of the Bangladesh Cricket Team. His primary focus is on improving the team’s performance and helping them build a strong identity on the international stage.
Shakib Among 147 Named in FIR for Alleged Murder During Bangladesh
Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh’s most renowned cricketer and a former member of parliament for the Awami League, is among 147 individuals charged in connection with a murder that occurred during protests in Bangladesh in early August 2024. The case was filed by Rafiqul Islam, the father of the deceased garment worker, Mohammed Rubel, at the Adabor police station in Dhaka as confirmed by an officer to ESPNcricinfo.
The charges stem from violent incidents that took place during a protest on Ring Road in the Adabor area on August 5, 2024. According to the first information report (FIR), Rubel was shot during the protest and succumbed to his injuries after two days in the hospital. The complaint alleges that the accused, either directly or indirectly, instigated or carried out the shooting. Shakib, named as either the 27th or 28th accused in the FIR, is included among several high-profile individuals linked to the former ruling party, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has since fled the country following her resignation.
Despite being named in the case, Shakib Al Hasan was not in Bangladesh at the time of the protests. He was in Canada, leading the Bangla Tigers Mississauga in the Global T20 Canada league, from July 26 to August 9. Before his stint in Canada, Shakib had been in the USA, participating in Major League Cricket until mid-July. His absence from the country during the protests raises questions about his direct involvement in the events leading to the charges.
The protests which is erupted in mid-July and continued until early August, were marked by widespread violence and unrest. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights reported over 400 deaths during this period, with some reports suggesting the number could be as high as 650, including many individuals who remain missing.
The political turmoil led to the fall of the Awami League government, and an interim government has since taken over in Bangladesh. This upheaval has also resulted in significant changes within the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). where former national captain Faruque Ahmed has recently been appointed as president following the resignation of Nazmul Hassan, a close ally of Sheikh Hasina.
Shakib Al Hasan’s involvement in this legal and political controversy is particularly significant given his status as one of Bangladesh’s most beloved sports figures and his recent entry into politics. He won a parliamentary seat from his hometown of Magura in the general elections earlier this year. Despite the charges, Shakib continues to play international cricket and is currently participating in the Rawalpindi Test against Pakistan.
This situation highlights the complex and often perilous intersection of sports, politics, and law in Bangladesh, where prominent figures like Shakib Al Hasan find themselves entangled in the country’s ongoing political and social struggles. The case against Shakib and others accused in connection with the protests will likely be closely watched, both in Bangladesh and internationally, given its potential implications for the country’s future stability and governance.
Shakib Newly Appointed BCB Chief Targets Major Overhaul in Bangladesh Cricket
The newly appointed chief of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, has expressed his desire to replace Chandika Hathurusingha as the head coach of the men’s cricket team. Ahmed believes that the Sri Lankan coach shouldn’t have been given a second term, as his appointment has negatively impacted Bangladesh cricket. Additionally, the BCB chief plans to discuss Tamim Iqbal’s future as a Bangladesh cricketer to gain clarity on his plans.
Shakib was in Canada during the incident
On August 5, during the protests that led to the resignation of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Shakib Al Hasan was not in Bangladesh. Instead, he was in Canada, captaining the Bangla Tigers Mississauga in the Global T20 Canada league in Brampton. Prior to this, the 37-year-old was in the USA, participating in Major League Cricket (MLC) until mid-July. He then traveled to Canada, where he played from July 26 to August 9. Shakib, who was elected as a member of parliament from Magura in the January general elections, is now competing in the Rawalpindi Test against Pakistan.
PM Sheikh Hasina also named in the complaint
According to the report, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is among those named in the case, which includes 154 individuals and an additional 400-500 unidentified people. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) appointed former captain Faruque Ahmed as its president on Wednesday, following the resignation of Nazmul Hassan. Hassan, a close ally of the ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former sports minister during her 15-year rule, stepped down from his position. The resignation was confirmed by BCB CEO Nizam Uddin Chowdhury. The student protests against Hasina’s rule resulted in nearly 450 deaths, leading to her resignation and departure from the country on August 5.
