BNP candidate Golam Maula Rony has been accused in a case filed under the Digital Security Act over an alleged phone conversation that recently leaked on social media.
In the unverified audio clip, the BNP candidate for Patuakhali-3 ordered an unidentified supporter to cordon off a police station in the backdrop of an attack on his wife’s vehicle.
Rony is among six individuals accused in the case filed at Galachipa Police Station on Thursday night, said OC Akhtar Morshed.
The former Awami League MP who recently joined BNP has rejected the allegation as false, according to bdnews24.com.
The case was started by Mehedi Masud, an associate professor of Galachipa Mohila College, joint-convener of the ruling Awami League’s election unit at the sub-district.
The BNP leader and his family members are accused of staging an attack on themselves at Galachipa on Dec 15 “by which they undermined law and order and threatened security,” according to the case details.
“When the audio clip of his phone conversation went viral on social media, it caused fear amid the people, which could have an adverse effect on the upcoming election.”
But Rony questioned the validity of the case, saying, “The High Court has observed that no-one except the victims' party can file complaints over an incident. My family members including my wife are the victims.”
“The police, by refusing to record my wife’s complaint, has broken the law. Now we are the ones being framed through this case,” said the BNP leader.
Rony is competing in the upcoming parliamentary election as a candidate of the BNP at Galachipa-Doshmina area.
On Dec 15, a vehicle carrying Rony’s wife Kamrunnhar Runu came under attack and was vandalised. Soon after the incident, Rony accused Awami League supporters for the attack, adding that the attackers snatched away jewellery from his wife and sister.
Within two days an audio clip of an alleged phone conversation between Rony and a local leader surfaced on Facebook and YouTube.
Several media reports have identified the local leader as Md Shahjahan Khan, a former president of the BNP unit at Galachipa.
In the audio clip uploaded on Somoy TV’s YouTube channel, the speaker, who is alleged to be Rony, is heard saying, “First take the car to the police station. After that, use this opportunity to slap cases on the candidate and all others. I’m trying to create pressure from the top.”
“All of you leaders will now cordon off the police station. Everybody. Every leader and activist.”
“Over there (police station), you’ll file a case with your sister-in-law as the plaintiff. Say the attack was on her and her vehicle and accuse everyone you can. A hundred of them all together. You will not leave the police station until the case is recorded.”
“This is our opportunity so make calls everywhere and surround the police station with thousands of people.”
