A petrol bomb was hurled at the ancestral residence of former Bangladesh cricket captain and former Awami League MP Shakib Al Hasan on Wednesday night in Magura, hours after he appeared virtually at a press conference alongside former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in New Delhi. The attack has sharply escalated political tensions surrounding Hasina's efforts to address the media from Indian soil.

What Happened at Magura

The incident occurred at approximately 8:45 pm local time on Wednesday at Shakib's ancestral home in the Keshabmor area of Magura town. According to police and local sources, the petrol bomb was thrown at the upper portion of the iron gate on the southern side of the house. The property was also reportedly vandalised.

A team from Magura Sadar Police Station visited the site following the report. Officer-in-Charge Abdul Al Mamun said: 'We are looking into the incident. It cannot be confirmed at this stage whether it was a petrol bomb. The actual circumstances will be known after the investigation.' Police could not immediately confirm who was responsible for the attack.

The Press Conference That Preceded the Attack

Earlier on Wednesday, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina addressed a virtual press conference organised at the Foreign Correspondents' Club in New Delhi. Shakib Al Hasan, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and several senior Awami League figures — including former Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel — participated virtually.

Hasina, who has been living in India since 5 August 2024 following the collapse of her government amid months of anti-government protests, declared her intent to return to Bangladesh in December. 'My return is not about power, it's about putting Bangladesh back on track of development, secularism and prosperity,' she said. The 78-year-old former prime minister acknowledged the personal risks involved: 'I know, they may put me in jail or kill me. I will go back home to be with my people. I have decided to go and I will go to Bangladesh.'

Awami League's Response

The Awami League issued a sharp statement on social media platform X, directly linking the attack to Shakib's participation in the press conference. 'Torching residences: the cost of attending Awami League press conference. Neo fascism engulfs Bangladesh,' the party wrote. The statement further alleged that BNP, Islamist Jamaat, and NCP had publicly threatened national media outlets ahead of the event, warning them against covering the press conference. The party described the attack as 'yet another testament to ongoing genocidal campaign against Awami League activists.'

Diplomatic and Legal Context

Hasina's decision to hold the press conference from Indian territory had already drawn a diplomatic response from Dhaka. Earlier this week, Bangladesh sought clarification from New Delhi over the event. In November 2024, a special tribunal in Dhaka sentenced Hasina to death in absentia over alleged 'crimes against humanity' linked to her government's crackdown on the student-led protests of 2024. Bangladesh has since repeatedly sought her extradition from India, which has not been acted upon.

Hasina, for her part, alleged that organised groups had deliberately transformed the protests into a violent political campaign. 'Fear has entered homes, work places and educational campuses; this is not the Bangladesh we built. I call upon the international community to stand with the people of Bangladesh in their struggle for democracy and justice,' she said.

With Hasina's declared return date in December drawing closer, the attack on Shakib's residence signals that political violence tied to the Awami League's resurgence — and its public communications from abroad — is likely to intensify.