National Cricketer Nayeem Beaten and Detained by Police in Chattogram; SI and Two Others Closed

Bangladesh national cricket team off-spinner Nayeem Hasan was allegedly dragged out of an autorickshaw, beaten with sticks and pipes, and subsequently harassed inside a police station by law enforcement officials. The incident occurred late Friday (June 12) night in the Lalkhan Bazar area of Chattogram city.

Following the assault, Nayeem was taken to the Khulshi Police Station, where he faced further humiliation. As news of the assault spread, Nayeem’s relatives and cricket enthusiasts gathered at the police station at midnight, triggering severe tensions. To bring the situation under control, Sub-Inspector (SI) Shafiqul Islam and two other police personnel were immediately "closed" (withdrawn) from the Khulshi Police Station and attached to the Police Lines. On Saturday morning, Nayeem's brother filed a formal criminal case against the accused.

Assaulted Under the Guise of 'DB Police' Near Expressway

Cricketer Nayeem Hasan told reporters that after finishing his Premier League match in Dhaka, he flew back to Chattogram on Friday night. He arrived at Shah Amanat International Airport at 10:20 PM and took a CNG-driven autorickshaw to head toward his residence in Bakalia. As the vehicle exited the expressway near Lalkhan Bazar, a police team signaled it to stop.

According to Nayeem, as soon as the vehicle stopped, several individuals identifying themselves as Detective Branch (DB) police officers confiscated the driver's documents. They then forcefully pulled Nayeem out of the vehicle, grabbed him by the neck, and attempted to push him into a police vehicle. Even though Nayeem introduced himself as a national team cricketer and displayed his official identification card, the assault continued.

"Despite introducing myself as a national cricketer, SI Shafiqul Islam of Khulshi Police Station continuously struck my waist with a stick. A civilian source, Sohel, who was accompanying the SI in plainclothes, also repeatedly beat me with a pipe. Even though a crowd of 100 to 200 people gathered and confirmed my identity as a cricketer, they did not stop. They kept telling me, 'You are an accused, shut up, don't say a single word.'"

— Nayeem Hasan, National Cricketer

Nayeem further alleged that despite having a police vehicle on standby, the officers tried to force him into another civilian autorickshaw to take him to an undisclosed location in an apparent abduction attempt.

Humiliated at the Thana; Rescued via Tamim Iqbal’s Intervention

Eventually, SI Shafiqul escorted a severely injured Nayeem to the Khulshi Police Station. Nayeem alleged that he faced mental harassment even inside the Officer-in-Charge's (OC) room. When he was detailing the assault to the OC, OC Arifur Rahman repeatedly shouted at him, demanding he "keep his eyes down" while talking.

Since his phone had been confiscated during the initial interception, Nayeem could only call for help after recovering his phone at the station. He immediately contacted BCB President Tamim Iqbal, who then alerted BCB member Israfil Khosru. Following high-level communications between the BCB hierarchy and top police brass, the local police softened their stance. Nayeem's father, Mahbubul Alam, rushed to the station past midnight and reported that the on-duty officer had also behaved aggressively with him upon arrival.

According to Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) sources, the entire ordeal was the result of incorrect internal intelligence and a lack of coordination. SI Monirul Islam of Khulshi Police Station, who was away in Dhaka on leave, had tip-offed SI Shafiqul—citing information from an intelligence agency—that a massive shipment of smuggled gold was arriving in that particular autorickshaw. Acting on this unverified phone tip, Shafiqul proceeded to execute the raid without informing his superiors.

Commenting on the matter, Deputy Commissioner (North) of Metropolitan Police, Amirul Islam, stated, "Visibly, there were severe procedural lapses and errors in the police operation. There are strict rules governing search and seizure operations. We are investigating the matter with utmost gravity, and the responsible personnel will face strict departmental disciplinary actions."

Khulshi Police Station OC Arifur Rahman claimed that SI Shafiqul Islam had not informed him about the raid beforehand. He stated that the station staff only realized Nayeem's identity after he was brought in, after which they apologized and requested him to leave respectfully. However, Nayeem and his family refused to leave the station premises until punitive actions were initiated against the perpetrators.

On Saturday morning, Nayeem’s brother, Sabbir Alam, filed a formal case at the Khulshi Police Station. The lawsuit names SI Shafiqul Islam, Constable Russell, and police source Sohel as the primary accused, leveling charges of physical assault and attempted abduction. The OC confirmed that SI Shafiqul, Constable Russell, and another constable involved in the raid were immediately withdrawn, and legal proceedings are underway.