Arrest warrant against Shakib Al Hasan in cheque fraud case

Arrest warrant against Shakib Al Hasan in cheque fraud case

A Dhaka court on Sunday issued an arrest warrant against Bangladesh all-rounder and former Awami League MP Shakib Al Hasan over two bounced bank cheques.

Shakib has not returned to Bangladesh, citing threats to his life after deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was forced to flee the country due to civil unrest last year.

“Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Ziadur Rahman issued the arrest warrant, asking police to submit a report on the execution of the order by 24 March,” a court official told reporters.

He said the warrant was issued as Shakib, who is also the chairman of an agricultural farm, failed to appear in court as previously ordered in relation to a case involving bounced cheques.

An identical warrant was issued against the managing director of the farm, Gazi Shahagir Hossain, as he too did not respond to the summons.

Shakib played his last Test match against India in Kanpur late last year. The Champions Trophy in Dubai is expected to be his final appearance in Bangladesh colours.

He is currently banned from bowling in all forms of cricket due to a suspect action.

The cricketer, who now resides in the United States, was elected as an MP on an Awami League ticket during the 7 January, 2024 elections.

A case was filed against Shakib by the International Finance Investment and Commerce (IFIC) Bank.

The IFIC Bank had, in October last year, issued a legal notice over the bounced cheques and subsequently filed the case on December 24 against the cricketer-turned-businessman and three other officials of his company.

Two officials of the farm duly surrendered before the court on Sunday and pleaded for bail, which was granted after a hearing.

Shakib, the former captain of the Bangladesh national cricket team, established a crab farm named Shakib Al Hasan Agro Farm in southwestern Satkhira in 2016. The company has reportedly been inactive since 2021.