'I respect your feelings and sincerely apologise' - Shakib Al Hasan on his silence during Bangladesh protests

Star Bangladesh cricketer Shakib Al Hasan has finally addressed the recent political upset in his home country. He has also apologized for his previous silence and expressed his desire for a proper farewell from the game he loves.

The all-rounder, who has been a controversial figure in recent months due to his political involvement and absence from Bangladesh during the protests, began by paying respects to the students who lost their lives or were injured during the anti-discrimination movement. 

"Firstly, I would like to pay my respects to all the students who sacrificed their lives, led the anti-discrimination movement, and were martyred or injured during the people's uprising. I extend my deepest respect and condolences to them and their families. While no sacrifice can compensate for the loss of a loved one, nothing can fill the void of losing a child or a brother, to those of you who were hurt by my silence during this critical period, I respect your feelings and sincerely apologise. If I were in your place, I too might have been upset," Shakib wrote on his Facebook page.

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Political involvement was primarily for the development of my hometown Magura: Shakib Al Hasan

Shakib's silence during the July protests, which led to the fall of the Awami League government, had been a source of contention. As both a member of parliament and Bangladesh's most prominent cricket star, his lack of comment on the situation drew criticism from many quarters. The cricketer, along with other Awami League leaders, was even named in a murder case related to the protests. Addressing his brief stint in politics, Shakib explained that his primary motivation was to contribute to developing his hometown, Magura. 

"I was briefly the member of parliament from the Magura-1 constituency. My political involvement was primarily driven by my desire to contribute to the development of my hometown Magura. As you know, it is difficult to directly impact the development of one's area without a specific role in Bangladesh," he said.

Looking ahead, Shakib expressed his desire to bid farewell to the game surrounded by his fans. He announced his retirement from Test cricket on September 26 and hopes to play his last match in Dhaka against South Africa. 

"You all know that I will soon be playing my last match… I want to say goodbye with all of you around. At the moment of farewell, I want to shake hands with those whose applause compelled me to play better. I want to meet the eyes of those who cheered in joy when I played well and whose eyes welled up with tears when I did not. I believe that at this farewell moment, you will all be with me. Together, we will close the story that, in truth, stars not me, but all of you," he concluded