Windows were shattered and petrol bombs were thrown at former Bangladesh cricket captain Shakib Al Hasan’s residence after he participated in ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s first public media interaction since her 2024 removal from power. During the interaction, she pledged to return in December.
Incident Details in Magura
According to police, a group of individuals targeted Shakib’s ancestral home in Magura town, located about 170 km (105 miles) southwest of the capital Dhaka, on Wednesday. The attack caused a fire on the upper floor of the house. Authorities confirmed that the property was unoccupied at the time, and no injuries were reported.
Link to Hasina’s Media Appearance
The attack occurred just hours after Shakib, a former Awami League lawmaker, took part in a virtual event organised by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia in New Delhi. During her audio address at the event, Hasina reaffirmed her intention to return to Bangladesh, where she has been sentenced to death.
Shakib’s Political Background and Legal Issues
Shakib, who was elected to parliament as an Awami League candidate in January 2024, has been outside Bangladesh since the student-led uprising that led to Hasina’s removal from power. He is currently facing multiple investigations, including allegations of murder, embezzlement, fraud, and money laundering.
Hasina’s Statement on Returning
“I will return to my people,” Hasina said. “I know that they may put me in jail or they may kill me, but still I have to go back.”
First Media Interaction Since 2024
The event marked the second anniversary of Hasina’s ouster and was her first public interaction with the media since leaving Bangladesh in 2024.
Call to Lift Ban on Awami League
Hasina also stated that the ban imposed on the Awami League, the party she led for over four decades, should be lifted. The party was barred from political activities following her removal from office.
Bangladesh’s Response
Bangladesh’s foreign ministry criticised Hasina’s media appearance, calling it “an affront to the sovereignty of Bangladesh” and warning that allowing her to speak from India could negatively impact bilateral relations.
Extradition and Legal Developments
Hasina has been residing in New Delhi since August 2024. Bangladesh has requested her extradition, which India says is under legal review. In November 2025, Bangladesh’s war crimes tribunal sentenced her to death in absentia over the deadly crackdown during the 2024 student-led uprising, charges she has denied, calling them politically motivated.
[With inputs from Reuters]
