Bangladeshi cricketer Shakib Al Hasan has said sorry for not speaking out against the crackdown on the student-citizen movement in July and August this year, which left at least 1,500 dead. The movement eventually grew into a popular uprising that dethroned the Sheikh Hasina government, of which Shakib was a member.
Shakib addressed the criticism against him in a social media post on Wednesday evening.
During the Test series against India, Shakib announced his retirement and expressed his desire to play his last Test in front of the home crowd in Dhaka’s Mirpur, but also voiced concerns over his safety in Bangladesh.
The question of safety arose due to his silence during the student-led uprising, which saw lethal force used by the government, resulting in hundreds of deaths.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president had said they cannot provide Shakib with additional security. Asif Mahmud, sports adviser to the interim government that took power after Hasina's ouster, initially said Shakib should clarify his stance on the movement but later expressed support for Shakib’s wish to retire in front of the home crowd.
When uncertainty grew over Shakib’s homecoming, he came up with a social media post aiming to clarify his position, as the sports adviser suggested.
“At the outset, I respectfully remember all the self-sacrificing students who were martyred and injured in the student-citizen uprising led by the anti-discrimination student movement,” Shakib wrote. “I offer my deepest respect and condolences to them and their families. The sacrifice of a family that has lost a loved one cannot be compensated in any way. The pain of losing a child or a brother can never be eased.”
He then apologized for his silence, saying, “I respect the feelings of those of you who have been hurt or saddened by my absence during this time of crisis, and I am sincerely sorry for this.”
Shakib also urged his fans to stand by him. “You know, very soon, I will be playing my last match. From the beginning of my cricket career to becoming the Shakib Al Hasan I am today, you have driven this entire journey. This entire story of my cricket career has been written by you!”
Regarding his political affiliation with the Awami League, Shakib clarified that he was a member of parliament only for a “brief period,” noting that he joined politics with the aim of contributing to the progress of his birthplace, Magura.
Shakib and another former cricket captain, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, had both contested the 2024 election for Awami League. The main opposition parties boycotted the election, alleging an uneven playing field created by the Awami League.