Bangladesh say Shakib will not play cricket again after Hasina event

Bangladesh's Minister for Youth and Sports, Aminul Haque, has stated that former star cricketer Shakib Al Hasan will not be allowed to play cricket again for Bangladesh. This decision follows Shakib's participation via telephone in a media event in New Delhi with ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina. Hasina, who is a convicted fugitive, was addressing journalists two years after being forced from power. Haque indicated that the government had previously shown flexibility towards Shakib, who was a politician for Hasina's party, but that his involvement with Hasina, described as an "autocrat," leaves no room for reconsideration. Shakib is currently in Sri Lanka and is among those facing murder investigations related to a crackdown that led to Hasina's government being toppled.

Shakib Al Hasan, an ally of ousted Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has stated he will return to Bangladesh to face trial on charges including murder if his safety is guaranteed. Shakib, who has been living in exile in the United States since August 2024, hopes to play a farewell cricket series and potentially represent Bangladesh in the 2027 Cricket World Cup. His situation highlights the broader consequences for Hasina's allies facing legal charges after her government's overthrow. Shakib has expressed a desire to return immediately but is willing to wait for Hasina's planned return in December. He maintains his innocence regarding the charges, which he describes as fabricated, and has been unable to get a response from relevant ministries regarding his appeals.

Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been in exile in India since August 2024, is scheduled to speak today via videolink at an event hosted by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia. This appearance comes two years after her government was ousted following violent protests against a reservation system, during which she is accused of ordering forces to fire on demonstrators. Hasina was sentenced to death in absentia in 2025 for crimes against humanity, a verdict she disputes. Bangladesh has requested her extradition from India, which has resisted. Bangladeshi authorities have banned local media from airing her speech, which is expected to address her political future and potential return from exile.

Ousted Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has announced plans to return to Bangladesh in December, despite facing a death sentence. Two years after her government was toppled by a student-led uprising, Hasina, currently living in exile in India, stated she will return to her people regardless of the consequences, including potential arrest or execution. Her son confirmed she is receiving state-level security and respect in India. Hasina was sentenced to death in absentia by Bangladesh's international crimes tribunal for crimes against humanity related to the violent suppression of protests. She rejects the verdict as politically motivated and accuses the current government of lawlessness and economic ruin.

Former leader Hasina, convicted of crimes against humanity for a deadly crackdown on a 2024 uprising, has returned to Bangladesh despite a death penalty. UN investigators found evidence of systematic, deadly violence used by her government to retain power, with an audio recording of Hasina authorizing the crackdown used as crucial evidence. The protests, which began over job quotas, escalated into a mass uprising, resulting in an estimated 1,400 deaths. Hasina fled Dhaka as protests intensified and government buildings were stormed. The current Bangladesh Nationalist Party government, which came to power after February elections, has warned media against publishing Hasina's comments and expressed outrage at India for allowing her a public meeting, straining relations as Bangladesh seeks her extradition.

India has denied any involvement in a planned virtual speech by former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is living in exile in New Delhi. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs stated that the event is being organized by a private media entity and that the government does not endorse any views expressed. Bangladesh had requested clarification from India regarding the address, warning that Hasina's political activities from Indian territory could harm bilateral relations. Hasina, who fled Dhaka in 2024 and was later sentenced to death for crimes against humanity, is scheduled to make her first public appearance via videolink on Wednesday. Bangladesh officials expressed concern that Hasina might use Indian territory for political statements aimed at creating instability.

Bangladesh has officially requested India to clarify its position on former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's planned virtual address from New Delhi. Dhaka warned that permitting political activities by a fugitive could negatively impact bilateral relations between the two countries. This marks Bangladesh's first official response to Hasina's scheduled appearance at an event hosted by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia in Delhi. The event commemorates the second anniversary of the student-led uprising that removed her government. Hasina has been living in India since August 2024, and Bangladesh is seeking her extradition, despite her stated intention to return to Bangladesh in December.