Dhaka, 06 August (H.S.): A petrol bomb was thrown at the ancestral residence of former Bangladesh cricket captain Shakib Al Hasan in Magura on Wednesday night, hours after he virtually participated in a media interaction hosted by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from India. No casualties were reported, although the property was vandalised during the attack.

According to local reports, the attack took place at around 8:45 p.m. local time at Shakib's family home in the Keshabmor area of Magura town. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.

The attack came shortly after Shakib, a former Member of Parliament from the Awami League, joined a press conference organised at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of South Asia in New Delhi. The event marked Sheikh Hasina's first interaction with the media since leaving Bangladesh following her ouster in 2024.

The Awami League condemned the attack, alleging that it reflected the growing political intolerance in Bangladesh. The party claimed the incident followed public threats made by rival political groups against media organisations covering the event. Those allegations have not been independently verified.

During the media interaction, Sheikh Hasina reiterated that she intends to return to Bangladesh in December despite facing criminal charges and the possibility of imprisonment. She said her return was motivated by a desire to restore development, secularism and stability in the country rather than to regain political power.

I will return to my people, Hasina said, adding that she was prepared to face arrest or even death if necessary. She stated that the cases against her were politically motivated and insisted they would not deter her from returning.

Hasina, 78, has been living in India since stepping down as Prime Minister following widespread protests in Bangladesh in 2024. A Bangladeshi tribunal later sentenced her to death in absentia over allegations linked to the government's crackdown during the student-led uprising. She has consistently denied all charges, describing them as fabricated and politically driven.

Addressing the media through an audio message, Hasina alleged that the student protests had evolved into an organised political campaign aimed at removing her government and undermining the country's constitutional order. She also claimed that Bangladesh's economy had weakened since her departure, alleging slower economic growth, declining investment and rising unemployment.

Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly criticised the media event, calling it an affront to the sovereignty of Bangladesh. The ministry said allowing Hasina to address the media from India was deeply hurtful and warned that such developments could negatively affect bilateral relations between the two neighbouring countries.

The current Bangladeshi government has repeatedly requested Hasina's extradition from India. India has acknowledged receiving the request and has said it is examining the matter. Bangladesh had also instructed domestic media not to publish or broadcast Hasina's statements, citing an existing court order.

Meanwhile, protests were reported in Dhaka during Hasina's address, with demonstrators burning her effigy. There was no immediate official response from the Bangladeshi government to her latest remarks beyond the foreign ministry's statement.

Police are continuing to investigate the petrol bomb attack on Shakib Al Hasan's residence, and no arrests had been announced at the time of filing this report.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar