World update: Windows were smashed petrol bombs hurled former Bangladesh

Former Bangladesh cricket captain Shakib Al Hasan’s ancestral home in Magura was attacked hours after he took part in Sheikh Hasina’s first public media interaction since her removal from office, according to Dawn and police reports cited in the feed. Windows were smashed and petrol bombs were thrown at the property, causing a fire on the upper floor. Police said the house was unoccupied and no injuries were reported.

The incident came on Wednesday in Magura town, about 170 kilometres southwest of Dhaka. The attack followed a virtual event organised by the Foreign Correspondents Club of South Asia in New Delhi, where Hasina spoke publicly for the first time since fleeing Bangladesh in 2024.

During the appearance, Hasina said she would return to Bangladesh in December and repeated her view that the ban on the Awami League should be lifted. She also said she knew she could face jail or death if she returned, but insisted she still had to go back to her supporters.

Shakib, who was elected to parliament as an Awami League candidate in January 2024, has remained outside Bangladesh since the student-led uprising that toppled Hasina’s government. He is facing several investigations, including allegations related to murder, embezzlement, fraud and money laundering, according to the feed summary.

The former Bangladesh cricket captain has long been one of the country’s best-known sports figures, and his political links have often drawn attention. His presence at the New Delhi event placed him back in the middle of a politically charged debate around Hasina, the Awami League and Bangladesh’s post-ouster climate.

Bangladesh’s foreign ministry condemned Hasina’s media appearance, calling it an affront to national sovereignty and warning that allowing her to address the media from India could damage bilateral ties.

The attack on Shakib Al Hasan’s home underscores how closely the former prime minister’s public return to the media continues to reverberate inside Bangladesh, where tensions remain high nearly two years after her removal.

FAQs

What happened at Shakib Al Hasan’s home?

Police said attackers smashed windows and hurled petrol bombs at his ancestral house in Magura, causing a fire on the upper floor.

Was anyone hurt in the attack?

No injuries were reported, and the home was unoccupied at the time.

Why is Sheikh Hasina in the news?

Hasina held her first public media interaction since her 2024 ouster and said she planned to return to Bangladesh in December.