Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, the former Bangladesh cricket captain and current Member of Parliament representing Narail-2 constituency in Khulna division, reportedly had his house set on fire amidst widespread unrest following the resignation and departure of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday.
Media in Bangladesh reported that vandals attacked and ignited Mortaza’s residence following Sheikh Hasina’s exit amid significant student protests earlier this year.
Additionally, Bangladesh’s leading daily ‘Dhaka Tribune’ reported that protesters also set fire to the District Awami League office and vandalised the house of its president Subash Chandra Bose.
Jubilant crowds stormed the Ganabhaban, the official residence of the Prime Minister in Dhaka, looting furniture and TVs. Protesters also vandalized a statue of Sheikh Hasina’s father, state founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, by chiseling away at the head.
The flight into exile ended Hasina’s 15-year second stint in power, having ruled for 20 of the last 30 years. Hasina left the country for her safety, as her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy told the BBC World Service.
She landed at the Hindon Air Base in Ghaziabad near New Delhi on Monday evening on a Bangladesh Air Force transport plane.
National Security Adviser of India Ajit Doval met her at the airbase, with no further details on her stay or plans. India, which has strong cultural and trade links with Bangladesh, has not officially commented on the events in Dhaka.
During his cricketing career, Mortaza captained Bangladesh in 117 matches across formats, claiming 390 international wickets and scoring 2,955 runs in Tests, ODIs, and T20Is. After retiring from cricket, Mortaza entered politics in 2018 under the Awami League led by Sheikh Hasina, securing re-election during this year’s general elections.
