Cricketer Nayeem describes 'horrifying experience' at press conference

National cricketer Nayeem Hasan has alleged that police choked him by the throat and harassed him after forcing him into a CNG auto-rickshaw in Chattogram. He described the incident as a "horrifying and mentally devastating experience".

Demanding the highest punishment for those involved, Nayeem said he has already taken legal action. He was speaking at a press conference at his residence in Bahaddarhat Faridapara, Chattogram, on Saturday afternoon, June 13 .

Nayeem detailed the incident, saying after landing at Chattogram airport on Friday night following a Premier League match in Dhaka, he was heading home in a CNG auto-rickshaw when a police team stopped him in the Lalkhan Bazar area .

"The police first took the vehicle documents. Then they pulled me out of the CNG. They grabbed me by the throat and physically assaulted me," he alleged .

"I had no idea I would be treated like this. I was very scared at that time," Nayeem said, adding that the presence of 100-120 local supporters prevented the situation from worsening .

He claimed that after he was taken to Khulshi Police Station, he was not given a proper opportunity to speak. "I live a simple life. If they wanted to search my belongings, I would have cooperated. But they treated me like this without listening to anything," he said .

Nayeem said the situation improved only after he received a phone call from Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Tamim Iqbal .

Two police personnel were suspended following the incident. They are Khulshi Police Station Sub-Inspector Shafiqul Islam and Constable Md Russel Chowdhury . Additionally, a police informant named Sohel was detained, according to the Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) .

The CMP has formed a three-member committee, led by a deputy commissioner, to investigate the incident and has asked it to submit a report within five working days . A departmental case is being filed against the suspended officers .

Earlier, after preliminary findings revealed evidence of unprofessional conduct, CMP Commissioner Hasan Md Shoukat Ali visited Nayeem's residence, met with the cricketer and his family, and expressed regret over the incident .

"The police personnel have acted in a highly unprofessional manner. Such behaviour towards a national cricketer is unacceptable in any way," the commissioner said .

The cricketer's elder brother has filed a case with Khulshi Police Station over the incident.