Govt hacking opposition leaders' smartphones by using 'Pegasus' spyware, alleges Fakhrul

'AL working to hold another lopsided election'

FE REPORT | Published: July 08, 2023 22:17:55

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir alleged on Saturday that ruling party Awami League was again attempting to hold another lopsided election without participation of the opposition parties.
He categorically said such dream of the government will by no way be fulfilled.
"Awami League is again attempting to hold another election without participation of the opposition parties, a dream which will not be materialised," he said at a discussion meeting organised by a faction of National Peoples Party (NPP) at Dhaka Reporters Unity in the capital's Segunbagicha area.
"This time Awami League government will be forced to resign in the face of movement," he said.
He added people will not be able to exercise their franchise if the opposition parties have to attend the upcoming election under the existing system.
Mr Fakhrul said it will be useless to reach a consensus as they (the government) are still trying to deceive the people through holding a lopsided election.
He alleged that ruling Awami League again started working out a plan centering the upcoming national election to remain in power.
"This time the government is facing an odd situation as the international community as well as the country people want to see a free, fair, credible, transparent and participatory election under a neutral caretaker government," he stated.
"Awami League knows it very well that if the people of the country get a chance to cast their votes freely then they (the ruling party) will see their political defeat," he added.
Mr Fakhrul said the people of the country could not vote under the existing system as the two previous elections were marred by controversies and rigging.
He alleged that the government was trying to drive away opponents so that they could not participate in the upcoming elections by using state machinery and filing false cases.
The US has imposed visa restrictions, he said, adding ruling Awami League has pushed the country people towards danger.
"This government has tarnished the image of the country and made it over burdened with loans," he said.
"The people of the country have now awakened. They are now united. Constitutionally this government is illegal. They (the ruling party) will have to quit. Awami League has become an enemy of the people. The aim of Awami League is to oppress the people and we (BNP) are totally against it," he continued.
Mr Fakhrul further said there is no practice of democracy in Awami League; they only survive on terrorism and looting.
Country people no longer want to see the Awami League government in power, he added.
He expressed the hope that a pro-people government could be established by ousting the government through peaceful movement on the streets.
Mr Fakhrul also said Dhaka city corporations have utterly failed to control dengue.
Chairman of NPP Dr Fariduzzaman Farhad chaired the discussion which was also addressed by chairman of a faction of Jatiya Party Mostofa Jamal Haider and chairman of Gono Dal ATM Golam Maula Chowdhury.
Meanwhile UNR adds: Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday alleged that the government has been hacking the smartphones of the opposition leaders by using the 'Pegasus' spyware as part of its move to subdue its opponents.
Speaking at a discussion, he also accused the Awami League government of trying to completely depoliticise Bangladesh by using the state machinery and holding the next polls without the participation of the opposition parties.
"The telephone (cellphone) in your pocket is now your worst enemy," the BNP leader said warning the opposition leaders and activists.
He alleged that the people of Bangladesh have been spied upon by the government with the Pegasus spyware as this technology is helping the regime collect any person's telephonic conversations, SMS, and other documents on their cellphones.
"They are now hacking the telephones of the opposition leaders to suppress the opposition parties and eliminate the dissent. This can't happen in any democratic county…my privacy, politics, and democracy are my rights. As per democracy, the government can't snatch my every right if it wants to," Fakhrul said.