Online Desk

A group of expatriate anti-liberation and anti-state elements have launched cyber war against Bangladesh and its government.

Failing to earn livelihood at home, a section of war criminals, their family members, leaders of BNP and Jamaat, sacked and retired army officials, so-called journalists and pettifoggers have fled abroad.

Through abuse of social media, they are earning money spreading rumours against the country and Awami League government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Objective of the these conspirators is to destabilise the country, block the socioeconomic development and topple the government.

Enemies at home and abroad are united to implement their common agenda with investment of huge fund to continue the cyber war.

Law enforcers have detected these cyber criminals but are unable to take any action against them for staying abroad. However, a process to take help of INTERPOL is in motion.

Bangladesh has graduated as a middle income country due to milestone steps of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Without taking help from the World Bank and other global lenders and donors, Bangladesh has achieved unprecedented socioeconomic progress.

In a major shift, Bangladesh has extended loan assistance to Sri-Lanka and some other countries.
Apart from infrastructural development, Bangladesh has boomed technologically and entered ‘Digital Era.’ The war criminals, their successors and other anti-state elements are taking advantage of the digitisation.

The country has seen mushroom growth in self-declared think tanks and pedagogues.

The ministries and authorities concerned are apparently failing to take any effective step against the rumour mongers.

Prime Minister herself expressed concern over the anti-state rumours.

Addressing a reception at New York accorded by the US unit of Awami League on October 24, she said some expatriates are engaged in tarnishing image of the country and the government by critical comments.

Awami League has secured the country’s development but such expatriates are spreading rumours and lies.

Some people term Awami League government illegal, she said, adding that they get the chance to utter the derogatory languages due to digitisation wrought by the government.

BNP and Jamaat are funding the cyber war against the country and government.

If they have ideals and strong footing, they are not supposed to use the digital platform created by Awami League government, the premier said.

In an investigation, the country’s largest circulated daily Bangladesh Pratidin has identified a dozen of expatriate cyber criminals. They are Netro News editor-in-chief Tasnim Khalil in Sweden, former Maj Delwar Hossain in Canada, court marshal convict Col (retd) Shahid Uddin Khan in UK, Capt (retd) Shahid Islam in Canada, APS to former prime minister Khaleda Zia Md Shamsul Alam in USA, Shibir cadre Nazmus Sakib in Canada, so-called barrister M Rahman Masum in Canada, self-declared journalist and infamous IP TV Nagorik’s CEO Tito Rahman in Canada, absconding accused in pornography case and sign-boarded journalist Kanak Sarwar, self-proclaimed son of Razakar and accused in extortion case journalist Elias Hossain, and fraud journalist and rape accused Zawad Nirjhor in UK. Hasina Akter, who falsely claims to be feature writer of Bangladesh Pratidin, is also a cyber criminal.

The above persons have been spreading rumours against the country and its people through Facebook, Youtube and other social media platforms.

Recently, the High Court felt dismayed by the inaction of the BTRC in this regard. “What does BTRC do? They seem to enjoy the video, picture and content viral on the social media. Don’t we live with children and other family members? They (BTRC officials) can take step, if they wish. Unfortunately, they are not playing due role,” the HC observed.

Various intelligence officials have found evidence of rumours being spread against Bangladesh, government, Bangabandhu, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her family members.

The authorities concerned have moved to seek assistance of INTERPOL to reach the expatriate cyber criminals.

Police high-ups suspect that anti-liberation forces and their sympathisers are pulling strings behind the curtain. Anti-state elements are united to implement a common agenda and they have invested huge money to make their mission a success.

Replying to a query, former Justice AHM Shamsuddin Choudhury Manik said “Some expatriates are spreading rumours in social media in own interest. It is learnt that children of war criminals, sacked army officials, absconding BNP leaders, and fugitive journalists are making viral videos with detrimental content to tarnish image of the country, obstruct development and damage mills, industries and economic backbone. They are spreading the rumour from London, America, Canada, Switzerland, Australia and other countries.”

The conspirators are earning money from anti-state content and BNP-Jamaat sources.

“They (conspirators) are earning money by spreading anti-state content, but we are quite indifferent towards the issue. Even, we are unable to remove the contents. The ministers and officials concerned remain silent spectators,” he opined.

Prof Zeenat Huda of Sociology Department of Dhaka University said “Some people are spreading videos in the Facebook and Youtube. Most of the videos are associated with rumours casting negative impact on the country and society. The image of the country is being tarnished internationally.”

If immediate steps are not taken, the conspirators will expand anti-state rumours affecting socioeconomic development, she opined.

“Anybody has right to make objective criticism against a political government. Law does not permit anti-state and anti-government rumours. All of the rumour mongers are Bangladeshi citizens. They often make detrimental comment on the liberation war and Bangabandhu. Some of them claim to be children of Razakars. Unfortunately, we see no visible step against these people yet. The ministries and departments concerned will have to take counter measures soon.”

Prof Zia Rahman of Criminology Department of Dhaka University said some expatriates are spreading audio and video with fake photos and fabricated information against the country and government for financial gains.

“The state will have to take measure against the rumour mongers. It should take the issue to global forum and make international consensus. Although scandalised contents are short-lived, we cannot sit idle. The state should go for counter measure with the help of other countries.”