Protests in Bangladesh took a violent turn on Monday, August 5, as protestors set the house of former cricket captain Mashrafe Mortaza ablaze. The unrest, which has gripped the nation, escalated dramatically with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigning and fleeing the country.
Mortaza, a member of Parliament representing the Narail-2 constituency in Khulna division, won his seat as an Awami League candidate led by Sheikh Hasina in the 2024 general elections. Local media reports indicate that vandals attacked Mortaza’s home and set it on fire following the Prime Minister’s departure, which came after widespread student protests.
Mortaza’s illustrious cricket career saw him lead Bangladesh in 117 matches, taking 390 international wickets and scoring 2,955 runs across 36 Tests, 220 ODIs, and 54 T20Is. After retiring from the sport in 2018, he joined the Awami League and was subsequently elected as an MP.
The impact of the ongoing violence and unrest is extending to the world of cricket. The International Cricket Council (ICC) is closely monitoring the situation in Bangladesh and may be forced to relocate the Women’s T20 World Cup, scheduled for October.
Even after Hasina’s departure, the violence in Bangladesh has not subsided. A mob stormed the Sherpur District Jail during a curfew, breaching the main gates and setting the facility on fire. The mob vandalized the jail complex, freed over 500 inmates, and stole weapons and valuables.
With Hasina no longer in power, a caretaker government led by the military will now govern Bangladesh. The country remains in a state of turmoil, with the full extent of the unrest and its consequences still unfolding.
