International Desk, 6th August: In the wake of widespread student protests, the residence of Mashrafe Mortaza, the former cricket captain and current Member of Parliament for the Narail-2 constituency, was attacked and set on fire by vandals. Mortaza, a key figure in the Awami League led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, had recently secured his parliamentary seat for the second consecutive term.
The violent incident occurred soon after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, 76, left the country following the intensification of student protests. Her departure marks the end of her 15-year second stint in power, capping a period in which she ruled Bangladesh for 20 of the past 30 years, succeeding her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the nation’s founding leader who was assassinated in a 1975 coup.
Reports from leading Bangladeshi newspaper ‘Dhaka Tribune’ indicate that the District Awami League office was also set on fire, and the residence of its president, Subash Chandra Bose, was vandalized. The unrest saw jubilant mobs storm the Ganabhaban, the official residence of the Prime Minister in Dhaka, looting furniture and electronics. Images surfaced of protesters carrying off a red velvet, gilt-edged chair and various vases, capturing the chaotic scenes.
In a symbolic act of defiance, protesters climbed a statue of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, chiseling away at the head with an axe, highlighting the deepening discontent against the political legacy of the ruling party.
Mashrafe Mortaza, who transitioned from cricket to politics in 2018 by joining the Awami League, has been a significant figure in Bangladeshi sports. During his cricketing career, he captained Bangladesh in 117 matches and accumulated 390 international wickets, alongside scoring 2,955 runs across 36 Tests, 220 ODIs, and 54 T20Is.
As the violence escalated, Sheikh Hasina flew to India, landing at the Hindon Air Base in Ghaziabad near New Delhi aboard a Bangladesh Air Force military transport plane. National Security Adviser Ajit Doval met her upon arrival, but details about her stay and future plans remain undisclosed. India’s government has yet to issue an official statement regarding the developments in Dhaka, despite the close cultural and trade ties between the two nations.
This series of events underscores the growing instability in Bangladesh, as public discontent with the current government continues to manifest in violent and destructive ways.
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