Bangladeshi cricketer Naeem Hassan He has alleged that he was attacked by policemen in Chittogram while returning home from Dhaka on Friday night.As reported by ESPNCricinfo, Naeem was traveling in an auto-rickshaw near Lal Khan Bazar after arriving from Dhaka airport. Naeem said the policemen stopped the auto-rickshaw and behaved aggressively with him. He claimed that the officials grabbed him by the throat and tried to take him to the police station in another auto-rickshaw. Onlookers reportedly informed the police that Naeem was an international cricketer from Bangladesh, but he said the officers ignored them.“I repeatedly told them who I am, but they refused to listen,” Naeem 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 in a CNG (auto) instead of a police car? I want a fair investigation and justice in the whole incident, as Kirkinfo said,” he said.Naeem was released on Saturday morning and returned home.Many Bangladeshi cricketers reacted to this incident on social media. Senior player Mushfiqur Rahim expressed support for Naeem and demanded an investigation.“What happened to Naeem is absolutely unacceptable. I want a fair investigation into this incident. I am saddened and ashamed of what happened to Naeem. I protest this incident as a Bangladeshi citizen. Naeem, 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 over the alleged incident of harassment and ill-treatment of Bangladesh national team cricketer Naeem Hasan by some members of the law enforcement agency in Chittogram on Friday evening,” the BCB statement said. Such treatment of a national player is very deplorable and needs immediate attention.“The BCB expects a thorough and impartial investigation into the incident and urges the authorities concerned to take appropriate action against those found responsible.”Naeem has been included in Bangladesh’s 15-man 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.
