Bangladesh cricketer Nayeem Hasan has alleged that he was assaulted by police personnel in Chattogram on Friday night while returning home from Dhaka.Nayeem was travelling in an auto-rickshaw near the Lalkhan Bazar area after arriving from Dhaka airport, according to a ESPNCricinfo report. Nayeem said police officers stopped the auto-rickshaw and behaved aggressively towards him. He claimed the officers grabbed him by the throat and tried to take him to a police station in another auto-rickshaw. Bystanders reportedly informed the police that Nayeem was a Bangladesh international cricketer, but he said the officers ignored them.“I repeatedly told them who I was, but they refused to listen,” Nayeem told reporters. “The police beat me indiscriminately with sticks and plastic pipes. Later, when I identified myself at the police station, the officer-in-charge told me to keep my eyes down while speaking.”“If they were really police officers, why did they try to put me into a CNG (auto) instead of a police vehicle? I want a fair investigation and justice over the entire incident, he said, as quoted by Cricinfo.Nayeem was released in the early hours of Saturday and returned home.The incident drew reactions from several Bangladesh cricketers on social media. Senior player Mushfiqur Rahim expressed support for Nayeem and called for an investigation.“What happened to Nayeem is absolutely unacceptable. I want a fair investigation of the incident. I am hurt and ashamed at what happened to Nayeem. I protest this incident as a Bangladesh citizen. Nayeem, we are with you!”The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) also issued a statement on Saturday, saying it expects a “thorough and impartial investigation” into the matter.“The Bangladesh Cricket Board expresses its deep concern regarding the reported incident involving harassment and abuse of Bangladesh national team cricketer Nayeem Hasan by some law enforcing agency members in Chattogram on Friday evening,” the BCB statement said. “The board strongly condemns the unacceptable and inappropriate conduct displayed towards the player and views the matter with the utmost seriousness. Such treatment of a national athlete is deeply regrettable and warrants immediate attention.“The BCB expects a thorough and impartial investigation into the incident and urges the relevant authorities to take appropriate action against those found responsible.”Nayeem has been named in Bangladesh’s 15-member squad for the one-off Test against Zimbabwe later this month. The off-spinner has played 14 Tests for Bangladesh since making his debut in 2018.
