Former Cricket Captain Mashrafe Mortaza’s House Among Several Set Ablaze in Bangladesh
Bangladesh is currently grappling with widespread unrest and violence, as the homes of several prominent politicians, including former cricket captain and current MP Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, were set on fire by protestors.
This wave of chaos erupted following the resignation and subsequent flight of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from the country, triggering a violent backlash among segments of the population.
Mashrafe Mortaza, who transitioned from being Bangladesh’s cricket captain to a Member of Parliament representing the Narail-2 constituency, became a prime target of the agitators.
On Monday, miscreants broke into Mortaza’s home in Narail, vandalized the interior, and ultimately set the house ablaze. The attack was reportedly fueled by anger over Mortaza’s silence regarding the government’s handling of student protests, where numerous students were allegedly detained and shot by security forces.
Photos circulating on social media show the extent of the damage, with the charred remains of Mortaza’s residence standing as a stark symbol of the current unrest. Mortaza, who also serves as the national whip to the Prime Minister, has yet to make a public statement regarding the incident.
A close friend of Mortaza expressed his shock and despair, stating, “Mashrafe’s house has been broken into and destroyed. Then it was set on fire. There is nothing more I am in a state to say at the moment.”
In a conversation with local media, a distressed neighbor described the scene: “It was terrifying. The mob was shouting and breaking everything in sight. We could see the flames and hear the glass shattering. It felt like the whole neighborhood was under attack.”
The unrest was not confined to Mortaza’s home. The Narail District Awami League office and the residences of key party figures, including District President Subash Chandra Bose and General Secretary Nizam Uddin Khan Nilu, were also targeted and set on fire.
The coordinated nature of these attacks highlights the deep-seated frustration and anger towards the ruling Awami League party among certain segments of the population.
In Narayanganj, the home of MP Shamim Osman was similarly vandalized, while in Comilla, the residence of MP AKM Bahauddin Bahar was stormed and set ablaze by an enraged mob. These incidents underscore the widespread nature of the unrest, which has seen politicians across various regions of Bangladesh coming under attack.
District Awami League President Subash Chandra Bose, whose house was also torched, lamented, “We have always worked for the people, and this is the thanks we get? My house, my memories, everything is gone. This violence is not the answer.”
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the main opposition party, has distanced itself from the violence.
Alhaj Mohammad Monirul Islam, the district BNP general secretary, stated, “We do not know who is setting fire, vandalizing, and looting. We have instructed our leaders and workers to remain calm.”
This statement suggests a complex and possibly fragmented opposition movement, with multiple actors potentially involved in the unrest.
Local law enforcement agencies are struggling to maintain order amidst the chaos. Mohammad Mehedi Hasan, superintendent of Narail Police, mentioned that efforts are underway to control the situation, although the scale of the violence poses significant challenges.
“We are doing our best to manage the situation, but the anger and frustration among the people are palpable,” he said.
In an emergency meeting, the Awami League’s central committee condemned the attacks and called for immediate action to restore peace.
“We urge everyone to remain calm and let the authorities handle the situation,” said General Secretary Obaidul Quader. “Violence will only make things worse.”
Mashrafe Mortaza’s journey from cricket to politics has been marked by significant achievements and challenges. As the captain of the Bangladesh cricket team, he led the nation in 117 games across various formats, taking 390 international wickets and scoring nearly 3,000 runs.
His transition to politics in 2018, winning a seat as an MP from Narail-2 under the Awami League banner, was seen as a new chapter in his public life.
The recent attacks on his home and other political figures’ residences mark a dark turn in Bangladesh’s political landscape. The violence reflects deep-seated grievances and frustrations within parts of the population, particularly concerning the government’s recent actions against student protestors. The widespread targeting of Awami League officials and offices suggests a significant challenge for the ruling party as it navigates this period of instability.