Dhaka, Nov 20 (UNB) – Though BNP on Monday night alleged that there was no internet access in and around their chairperson Khaleda Zia’s Gulshan political office, its acting chairman Tarique Rahman joined the party nomination board on Tuesday availing of the internet service.

However, BNP party senior leaders declined to make any comment as to how Tarique is taking interview of their nomination seekers if there no internet connection at Khaleda’s office.

Speaking at a press conference at the party’s Nayapaltan central office on Monday night, party senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi claimed that all the internet-based services have been shut down in their party chairperson’s Gulshan office so that their party acting chairman cannot talk to their party’s nomination seekers through Skype.

Talking to reporters after facing the interview, BNP ex-assistant office secretary Abdul Latif Jony, who wants to get party ticket to contest the election from Feni-3 seat, on Tuesday morning said Tarique is taking interview through videoconferencing using another app.

BNP publicity affairs secretary Shaheed Uddin Chowdhury Anne also said Tarique talked to them through suing a telecommunication application.

The party nomination board, comprising BNP standing committee members, resumed the interview with those who bought party nomination forms for Chattogram division at BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office at 10 am on Tuesday.

A BNP senior leader, wishing anonymity, told UNB that their party is using Virtual Private Network (VPN) in their chairperson’s Gulshan office to operate another video calling app.

According to ICT experts, a Virtual Private Network (VPN) provides a secure, encrypted tunnel to transmit the data between a remote user and any company network.

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) reportedly blocked telecommunication application Skype across the country on Monday evening.

Emdadul Haque, secretary general of Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB), told UNB that they received a letter from the BTRC asking them to keep all kinds of communication from home and abroad via Skype suspended.

However, acting BTRC chairman Jahurul Haque said there was no instruction from the telecom regulator about blocking Skype.

Dhaka, Nov 19 (UNB) – BNP on Monday said Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has set a bad example by ‘blocking’ telecommunication application Skype across the country.

Speaking at a press conference at the party’s Nayapaltan central office, party senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi also said all the internet-based services have been shut down in their party chairperson’s Gulshan office so that their party acting chairman cannot talk to their party’s nomination seekers.

“We’ve got information that BTRC blocked the Skype service. The government regulated-body has set a disgusting example by blocking the Skype service. I have been informed from the Gulshan office that all the internet connections were stopped there,” he said.

The BNP leader said the government has taken the step after Election Commission Secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed’s remarks that the Commission has “nothing to do” with BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman’s involvement in the nomination processes of the party.

He said the government’s move also exposed that the ruling party alliance will keep the field under its unilateral control. “The government has demonstrated its ‘low taste’ by hurriedly blocking Skype.”

Rizvi said the government is relentlessly using the state machinery to take the election results to its favour. 

The BNP leader demanded the government immediately restore Skype service in the country.

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has reportedly blocked telecommunication application Skype across the country.

Emdadul Haque, secretary general of Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB), told UNB that they have received a letter from the BTRC asking them to keep all kinds of communication from home and abroad via Skype suspended.

However, acting BTRC chairman Jahurul Haque said there was no instruction from the telecom regulator about blocking Skype.
 

Dhaka, Nov 19 (UNB) - BNP on Monday alleged that the government is still controlling law enforcement agencies and administration as the Election Commission has failed to establish its authority over the state organs exercising its constitutional power.

“The Election Commission has failed to establish its authority on law enforcement agencies, including police. The government is still controlling all the activities of law enforcers. Not only that, the government is also strictly regulating the administration,” said BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

He came up with the allegation while speaking at a press conference at the party’s Nayapaltan central office.

The BNP leader said police kept arresting their party leaders and activists and raiding their houses across the country.

Referring to media reports, Rizvi said the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and other Commissioners opposed a proposal of a Commissioner to bring the law enforcement agencies and administration under their control. “In fact, the Commission is busy implementing government directives.”

He also said the EC and the ruling party leaders are talking in the same tune as the Awami League general secretary and a Commissioner said holding cent percent fair election will not be possible in the country.

Stating that all the Commissioners have taken oath for ensuring a free and fair election, he said, “They breach their oath with their comments that the election won’t be fair.”

Rizvi alleged that some private TV channels are being forced to carry out campaigns in favour of Awami League.

He said the state-owned BTV has also been conducting unilateral campaign for the ruling party. “There’s no sign of level-playing field in BTV and other private TV channels.  BTV and some other private TV channels are shamelessly playing a partisan role in favour of the ruling party.”

Rizvi urged the Election Commission to take steps for ensuring neutral role of all the TV channels.

Dhaka, Nov 19 (UNB) – Ten retired defence officers on Monday formally joined Dr Kamal Hossain-led Gano Forum ahead of the 11th parliamentary elections.

They joined Gano Forum, a key component of one of BNP’s alliances Jatiya Oikyafront, at a programme at Dr Kamal Hossain’s Motijheel chamber in the afternoon.

The defence officers include Lt Col (retd) and freedom fighter Khandakar Faridul Akbar, Lt Col (retd) Sheikh Akarm Ali, Lt Col (retd) Mohammad Shahidullah, Lt Col (retd) AFM Nuruddin, Maj (retd) Masudul Hasan, Maj (retd) Md Imran, Maj (retd) Md Badrul Alam Siddiqui and Squadron Leader (retd) Md Forkan Alam Khan, Squadron Leader (retd) MD Habib Ullah and Squadron Leader (retd) MD Mahmud.

However, Dr Kamal was not present at the programme due to his other engagement.

Gano Forum executive president Advocate Subrata Chowdhury welcomed the ex-defence officers presenting them flowers.

“We welcome 10 retired army an air force officers as they are going to start a new journey in politics by joining Gano Forum,” Subrata said adding, “We’ll work together for the country and restoration of democracy and people’s voting rights”

Chowdhury hoped that people will win the battle of ballot on December 30 as it is the last chance for bringing a change in the country’s politics.

Senior Gono Forum leaders, including its presidium members Jaglul Haider Afrik, AHM Shafiq Ullah, Gono Forum training affairs secretary Rafiqul Islam Pathik and executive committee member Maj (retd) Amin Ahmed Afsari were, among others, present.

Earlier, Reza Kibria, son of slain former Awami League Finance Minister Shah AMS Kibria, joined the party and submitted its nomination paper to Dr Kamal on Sunday to contest the December 30 parliamentary polls under Jatiya Oikyafront from Habiganj-1 constituency.

Dhaka, Nov 19 (UNB) - Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Monday claimed that the process of taking nomination seekers’ interview by ‘fugitive convict and corrupt’ BNP leader TariqueRahman is illegal.
 
"Our question is how a convicted man can participate in election activities sitting in London. It’s clearly a violation of the electoral code of conduct," he said.
 
While speaking at a press conference at the AL president’s Dhanmondi political office, the ruling party leader also urged the Election Commission to take proper action in this regard. “There’s a High Court directive that no convicted person can participate in the election campaign. We’re looking forward to the Election Commission. We hope the EC will look into the issue."
 
Asked whether they will take the issue to the court, he said they will take decision after discussion. “If there’s no remedy from the EC, we’ll place it before the people’s court,” he said.
 
Without naming BNP, Quader alleged that a party is trying to foil the election under the banner of Oikyafront. “When a congenial environment is prevailing for a fair election, the party gathered its leaders and terrorists in the name of providing nomination forms, attacked police and burned their vehicles even after the announcement of the election schedule which left 20 policemen injured,” he said.
 
Brushing aside BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir’s allegation that many innocent BNP men are being arrested, he said, “Most of the BNP activists are involved in crime. Resorting to firing, terrorism, torching buses and cutting roads is their job. They’re being arrested for their crime. Police don’t arrest any innocent person.”
 
Responding to a query about finalising the party nomination, the Awami League general secretary said they will announce the names of the party candidates before the dateline for filing nomination ends.

He also dismissed the list of party candidates published in the media as totally baseless. 

Meanwhile, Election Commission Secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed on Monday said the Commission has nothing to do with BNP acting Chairman Tarique Rahman’s participation in taking interview of their party candidates through videoconferencing.
 
“As Tarique Rahman joined the BNP nomination board through videoconferencing from abroad, the electoral code of conduct is not applicable for him and the EC has nothing to do with it,” he said while talking to reporters after an EC meeting at the Nirbachan Bhaban.