Cricketer Nayeem fears worse could have happened if locals didn’t intervene

He says police tried to force him into another vehicle during a search in Chattogram

Bangladesh cricketer Nayeem Hasan says the police assault on him in Chattogram could have taken a worse turn had local residents not gathered at the scene.

Speaking to reporters at his home in the port city’s Bahaddarhat on Saturday afternoon, Nayeem thanked the people who came to his aid at Lalkhan Bazar late on Friday night.

He recounted the ordeal that had sent shockwaves across Bangladesh since morning.

Nayeem, a regular member of Bangladesh's Test side, said he was subjected to incident late on Friday night after he had returned to his hometown following the final round of the Dhaka Premier League.

Police stopped the CNG-run autorickshaw carrying Nayeem at Lalkhan Bazar intersection on Friday night as he was returning home.

The officers, he said, grabbed him by the throat and tried to force him into a vehicle.

Even after local residents gathered and identified him as a national cricketer, the officers did not stop, he alleged.

He said he was beaten with batons and pipes before being taken to Khulshi Police Station.

“I am here to inform you of something. There were many people last night, about 100 or 120 of them. Special thanks to them,” said Nayeem, describing the locals as “brothers”.

“If they hadn’t been there, the incident could have been different,” the cricketer said.

“When they [police] were harassing me and taking me away, I said ‘Brothers, come here.’ As they accompanied me to the police station, police couldn’t do anything else even if they tried to.”

Nayeem looked tired and traumatised while narrating his account.

He said, “As they (police) tried to force me in a CNG-run three-wheeler, I got so scared.”

The cricketer demanded maximum punishment for those involved in the harassment.

“The action should be taken legally so this does not happen to others in the future again,” he said.

After being taken to the police station, Nayeem continued to face mistreatment by police until senior Bangladesh Cricket Board officials contacted the station.

Meanwhile, the Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) suspended two police personnel.

The CMP also formed a three-member probe committee, Commissioner Hasan Md Showkat Ali said in the morning, adding that a DB source was detained.

A departmental case will also be filed, he said.