A case was recorded against the Bangladesh national team cricketer Mosaddek Hossain Saikat over domestic violence on Sunday. The news will come as a blow to those who believe Saikat, 22, to be the most promising batting talent of his generation in the country.
Yet it continues an alarming trend for young Bangladeshi cricketers gaining the fame and adulation that comes from representing the country relatively early on in their careers, while continuing to engage in appalling behaviour off the field. Domestic violence would seem to be a particular predilection.
Saikat's wife Samia Sharmin registered the case under Dowry Prevention Act against the cricketer and his mother Parul Begum with the cognisance court of Mymensingh Senior Judicial Magistrate-1, alleging domestic violence over dowry and extra-marital affairs of the cricketer.
"I want a fair judgement and exemplary punishment for his (Saikat) crimes," said Samia.
Taking the complaint into account, Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate of the court Rozina Khan ordered the investigating officer and women's affairs officer of the court to submit a report on their veracity, reports UNB.
According to the case statement, Saikat used to routinely subject Samia to torture whenever she tried to stop his alleged extra-marital affairs. One such episode even caused her to have a miscarriage, but she said she remained silent and soldiered on to maintain their conjugal relationship.
Also according to the statement, on August 15, Saikat and his mother tortured Samia after she refused to bring them TK 1 million (10 lakhs) from her father as they demanded.
Samia and Saikat are first cousins who got married in 2012 and have since been residing at Saikat's house in Kachirjhuli in Mymensingh town since their marriage.
Saikat made his Test debut for Bangladesh just over a year ago against Sri Lanka in Colombo, scoring an assured 75 in the first innings as Bangladesh recorded a memorable away win in their 100th Test to draw the two-match series.
