Shakib Al Hasan's Conditional Return to Bangladesh
Shakib Al Hasan, a prominent figure in Bangladeshi cricket and a former political associate of the deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has expressed his readiness to return to his home country. However, this return is contingent upon the government providing assurances regarding his personal security. Shakib, who has been living in the United States since the political upheaval in August 2024 that led to Hasina's government being overthrown, faces charges, including murder, in Bangladesh.
The 39-year-old athlete, who has not yet formally retired from international cricket, harbors aspirations of playing a farewell series on home soil and representing Bangladesh in the 2027 Cricket World Cup. His situation underscores the broader implications of Hasina's removal, which has left numerous allies confronting legal challenges and unable to re-enter Bangladesh.
Political Fallout and Legal Challenges
Shakib's potential return would serve as a crucial test for the current administration under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, revealing its stance on accommodating figures linked to the previous ruling party. This question gains further complexity as Sheikh Hasina herself, currently in India and facing a death sentence in absentia, has declared her intention to return to Bangladesh in December.
Speaking from Sri Lanka, where he is engaged in franchise cricket, Shakib conveyed his position: “If I get the clearance from the government that my security will be ensured, I am happy to go back, face the court trial and everything that’s needed to be done.” He maintained his innocence, stating, “I know I haven’t done anything,” providing his most extensive account of the past two years spent abroad.
Sheikh Hasina, who was sentenced to death in absentia for her alleged role in the suppression of protests that, according to the United Nations, resulted in approximately 1,400 fatalities, has indicated her and other Awami League leaders' voluntary return to Bangladesh in December. Shakib voiced his desire for an immediate return but indicated he would align his plans with Hasina's if necessary. “Whatever the captain says, we follow her,” he remarked. “I think they will decide it better, and we will follow the instructions given to us.”
Incidents and Unanswered Pleas
Shakib defended his virtual participation in a Delhi news conference alongside Hasina, an event that reportedly led to an attack on his unoccupied residence in Bangladesh. He asserted that his message was solely one of peace and national progress, expressing no regrets. He also revealed that he had, through legal channels, attempted to communicate with the interior, law, and sports ministries, as well as the police, under the previous interim government, seeking to have what he describes as fabricated charges dismissed. However, these efforts yielded no response.
The cricketer expressed an eagerness to engage in discussions with Prime Minister Rahman regarding his return.
Cricket Career and Future
Regarding his cricketing future, Shakib acknowledged that he would not prolong his career indefinitely. “I am playing most of the franchise leagues. I am feeling good, still enjoying the game, playing well also,” he noted. “But… age is not on my side at this moment, so I cannot wait for too long.”
He recounted a past attempt to return home in late 2024, which was aborted mid-journey despite initial assurances from the interim government regarding his security. He landed in Dubai before returning to New York, where he resides with his family. “I don’t know what changed in 12 hours,” he mused, adding that the trip had been meticulously arranged over several days. A subsequent plan to return was thwarted after he posted a birthday message for Hasina on social media, an act authorities reportedly cited as the reason for denying his re-entry. “I don’t understand how that is the criteria for not letting me into Bangladesh,” he stated.
Shakib firmly rejected suggestions from former officials that distancing himself from Hasina and the Awami League might facilitate his return, asserting, “There is no way I will consider that.”
Legal Cases and Financial Implications
In 2024, Asif Mahmud, then sports adviser to the interim government, indicated that Shakib would receive security like any other cricketer but urged him to clarify his political stance to mitigate public discontent over his ties to the Awami League. Currently, two active cases against Shakib are pending: one concerning the alleged killing of a protester during the uprising, and another initiated by anti-corruption authorities regarding alleged corruption.
Shakib highlighted the absurdity of the murder charge, noting it was filed on a day in August 2024 when he was playing a match in Toronto. “It’s a laughable case,” he commented, adding that he has not yet appointed a defense lawyer. Furthermore, his bank accounts have been frozen for eighteen months pending investigation, though he refrained from disclosing the specific banks or the exact amount withheld. He questioned the justification for this, given his consistent record as a high-taxpayer. “When someone is the highest-taxed player for the last 10 years and paid all the taxes and everything and his account has been frozen for a year and a half for investigation,” he said, requesting transparency: “I will give you all the information you need, but if you don’t find anything, just release it.”
Shakib also shared the personal toll of his exile, revealing that he has not seen his parents, who remain in Bangladesh and are reportedly unable to leave, for two years. “It’s been difficult for all of us, but we are surviving.”
On Thursday, Shakib said his house had been attacked after he joined Hasina’s first public media conference since her 2024 removal from power.
