Mashrafe Mortaza's Residence Vandalized In Nationwide Job Quota Protests

Former Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza's residence has reportedly been vandalised and set on fire amid nationwide unrest over job quotas. This turmoil also led to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's resignation and departure from the country.

Mortaza transitioned into politics after retiring from cricket and is now a member of Parliament for the Narail-2 constituency in Khulna division. Earlier this year, he secured his seat for a second consecutive term as a candidate of the Awami League, led by Sheikh Hasina.

The unrest began with massive student protests against the country's quota system, which escalated into demands for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's resignation. Following her departure, miscreants targeted Mortaza's house, vandalising and setting it ablaze. Reports in Bangladeshi media confirmed these incidents.

During his cricket career, Mashrafe Mortaza captained Bangladesh in 117 matches across all formats, taking 390 international wickets and scoring 2,955 runs in 36 Tests, 220 ODIs, and 54 T20Is. His leadership on the field was significant for Bangladesh cricket.

Sandeep Panwar (@tweet_sandeep) August 6, 2024

There were also rumours circulating on social media about cricketer Litton Das' house being attacked. However, these were false reports as some users on X portrayed Mortaza's house as Das' home. The misinformation added to the chaos during the protests.

Additionally, rumours spread about all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan supporting the student protests. These claims were also false and not connected to the current situation in Bangladesh. The confusion stemmed from an old video posted by Hasan during the 2018 student protests advocating for better roads.

Background of Student Protests

The recent protests in 2024 were primarily against the country's quota system. The demonstrations quickly escalated into demands for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's resignation. Protestors took to the streets on August 5, vandalising temples and other monuments before Hasina resigned and fled.

According to Bangladeshi media outlet Prothom Alo, Shakib Al Hasan had posted a video during the 2018 student protests advocating for better roads. This video was falsely used by some people to claim that Shakib supported the current protests against the quota system.

Mashrafe Mortaza joined politics in 2018 after retiring from cricket and has been a strong supporter of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. His involvement in politics has made him a target amid the ongoing unrest in Bangladesh.

The situation remains tense as authorities try to restore order following widespread protests and acts of vandalism across the country.