The ancestral home of former Bangladesh cricket captain and former Awami League MP Shakib Al Hasan was attacked with a petrol bomb on Wednesday night, just hours after he appeared virtually alongside former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at a press conference in New Delhi.
The attack occurred at around 8.45 pm local time at Shakib's family residence in the Keshabmor area of Magura town. Besides the petrol bomb attack, the property was also vandalised, according to reports. No casualties were immediately reported.
Awami League alleges political targeting
The incident came shortly after Sheikh Hasina addressed a virtual press conference organised by the Foreign Correspondents' Club in New Delhi, where she announced her intention to return to Bangladesh later this year despite the legal and political challenges awaiting her.
Reacting to the attack, the Awami League alleged that it was linked to Shakib's participation in the event.
"Torching residences: the cost of attending Awami League press conference. Neo-fascism engulfs Bangladesh," the party said in a statement.
In a stronger allegation, the Awami League claimed that political rivals, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party (NCP), had threatened media organisations ahead of the press conference and described the attack as part of a wider campaign of political intimidation. The opposition parties have not publicly responded to these allegations.
Hasina reiterates return plans
Addressing the virtual gathering, Sheikh Hasina reaffirmed her decision to return to Bangladesh in December, saying her objective was to restore democracy rather than reclaim political power.
"My return is not about power; it is about putting Bangladesh back on the path of development, secularism and prosperity," she said.
The former Prime Minister acknowledged the risks involved, stating that she was prepared to face imprisonment or even death upon her return.
"I know they may put me in jail or kill me, but I will return to my country and stand with my people," Hasina said.
Exile and legal battle
Hasina has been living in India since August 5, 2024, after leaving Bangladesh following months of anti-government protests that culminated in the fall of her government.
In November last year, a special tribunal in Dhaka sentenced her to death in absentia over alleged crimes against humanity linked to the crackdown on the 2024 student-led protests. Bangladesh has since repeatedly sought her extradition from India.
During her address, Hasina claimed that fear had spread across homes, workplaces and educational institutions in Bangladesh and appealed to the international community to support what she described as the country's struggle for democracy and justice.
She also alleged that organised political groups had transformed initially peaceful student protests into a violent movement aimed at removing her government.
"I was forced away from my country, but I have never been separated from my people," she said.
Security concerns mount
The attack on Shakib Al Hasan's residence adds to growing concerns over the increasingly polarised political environment in Bangladesh, where individuals perceived to be aligned with the Awami League continue to face hostility following the change in government. While authorities have yet to identify those behind the attack, the incident is likely to further intensify political tensions as Hasina continues to signal her intention to return to the country.