The ancestral home of Shakib Al Hasan in Magura, Bangladesh, was attacked on Wednesday night, just hours after the former Bangladesh captain joined a virtual media event featuring former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
According to police and reports from Reuters, attackers smashed windows and threw petrol bombs at the house, starting a fire on the upper floor. The property was empty at the time, and no injuries were reported.
The incident has added another difficult chapter to Shakib’s life away from Bangladesh. Once one of the country’s biggest sporting stars, he has been caught up in the country’s political turmoil since the fall of Hasina’s government in August 2024.
What Happened at Shakib Hasan House?
The attack took place in Magura, around 170 kilometers southwest of Dhaka. Police said a group of people targeted Shakib’s ancestral residence, breaking windows and setting fire to part of the building.
Reuters reported that petrol bombs were thrown into the house and that a fire broke out on the upper floor. No one was inside when the attack happened.
There has been some difference in the early reports over exactly what was used. ThePrint quoted the officer in charge of Magura Sadar Police Station as saying that people threw brick chips at the property and tried to set it on fire. Local reports mentioned petrol bombs, while police initially said they had not independently confirmed that detail.
The damage, however, is not in doubt. Windows were broken, and part of the building was affected by fire. There were no reports of deaths or injuries.
Why Was Shakib’s House Targeted?
The timing of the attack is the biggest part of the story. Earlier on Wednesday, Shakib took part in a virtual event organized by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia in New Delhi. The event marked the second anniversary of Hasina’s removal from power and was her first public interaction with journalists since she left Bangladesh in 2024.
Shakib was in Colombo at the time, where he has been playing franchise cricket. He reportedly sent a voice note to the event, which was played during the programmed. He later joined the event but did not speak live, according to ThePrint the attack happened only hours later.
That connection has led to widespread speculation that the former captain’s political links were behind the incident. However, the motive should be treated with caution until the police establish what happened and identify those responsible.
Shakib was elected to Bangladesh’s parliament from the Magura-1 constituency as an Awami League candidate in January 2024. After the political upheaval that year, the Awami League was barred from political activity, while Shakib remained outside Bangladesh.
Shakib Has Stayed Outside Bangladesh
The attack comes at a time when Shakib has already spent a long period away from his home country. Following the student-led uprising that brought down Hasina’s government in August 2024, Shakib did not return to Bangladesh. He has continued playing professional cricket overseas, taking part in franchise competitions.
He has also faced legal problems in Bangladesh. Reuters reported that he is facing multiple investigations involving allegations including murder, embezzlement, fraud and money laundering. These are allegations and investigations, not convictions against the cricketer. Shakib has denied wrongdoing.
ThePrint reported that Shakib has said he is willing to return if he can be assured of personal safety and protection from harassment during legal proceedings. That makes Wednesday’s attack especially significant. Even though Shakib was not at the property, an attack on his family home shows the risks surrounding his return remain a serious issue.
Hasina’s Return Statement Adds to The Tension
The event that Shakib joined was already politically sensitive. Hasina, who has been living in New Delhi since leaving Bangladesh in August 2024, said during the event that she intended to return to Bangladesh. She also called for the ban on the Awami League to be lifted.
Bangladesh’s foreign ministry strongly criticized the media appearance, calling it an affront to the country’s sovereignty and warning that such events could affect relations between Bangladesh and India.
Hasina was sentenced to death in absentia by Bangladesh’s war crimes tribunal in November 2025 over the crackdown during the 2024 uprising. She has rejected the charges as politically motivated.
Against that backdrop, Shakib’s appearance at the event carried obvious political weight, even though he was not the main speaker.
