No connection to Faiz Ahmed during Mizanur Rahman’s interrogation at DB: Telecommunications Ministry
NN ONLINE:
Mizanur Rahman Sohel, head of online at Dainik Bhorer Kagoj and the secretary of the Online Editors Alliance, has been released by the Detective Branch (DB) of Police after questioning. There have been rumours circulating on social media alleging the involvement of Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, special assistant to the Chief Adviser on Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology.
Sohel confirmed his release in a Facebook post writing, “Alhamdulillah. After being held in DB custody for nearly 10 and a half hours without any wrongdoing, they have respectfully dropped me off at home.
Special Assistant to the Chief Advisor on Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, Faiz Ahmed Taib, has nothing to do with the fact that he took Mizanur Rahman Sohel, the online editor of Bhorer Kagoj, to the Detective Branch (DB) office for questioning. The Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology has claimed that the allegation is baseless and motivated.
This information was given in a press release signed by the ministry’s public relations officer, Muhammad Jasim Uddin, on Wednesday (November 19).
It said that a team of Detective Branch took Mizanur Rahman Sohel, the online editor of Bhorer Kagoj, to the office for questioning last Tuesday night. However, a baseless campaign has been launched involving Special Assistant to the Chief Advisor on Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, Faiz Ahmed Taib; which has come to our attention this morning.
There, the truth has been distorted by mixing sweetness of mind with the implementation of NEIR by implicating Faiz Ahmed Taib. In this context, Faiz Ahmed Tayyab said, “In the interest of national order and security, we are implementing the National Equipment Identification Register (NEIR). BTRC has also held a meeting with the aggrieved parties to stop illegal handsets.”
He said, “Despite all this, some media outlets have deliberately placed the blame on me based on a Facebook post. My statement to them is that it is unintentional. Law enforcement agencies do their job. I have no scope for any involvement here.” While investigating the matter, it was learned that the detective police team took him home after interrogation.
Stating that he has no personal or professional involvement with journalist Mizanur Rahman, Faiz Ahmed Tayyab said, “Still, such ‘propaganda’ is destroying freedom of speech. Such false information creates confusion in the public mind. So I hope no one is confused by such writings in the future.”
Meanwhile, on Wednesday at around 10:15 am, Mizanur Rahman Sohel was released into the custody of his wife Sumaiya Seema. Sharing a long post about the incident on social media Facebook, journalist Mizanur Rahman wrote,
Alhamdulillah. After being in DB custody for about 10 and a half hours without committing any crime, they brought me back home with dignity. Last night around 12 am, 5/6 DB members forcibly took me from my house on the pretext that the DB chief would talk to me. My name was taken to DB and written in the accused’s book. I was taken into custody with the accused after taking off my shoes and belt. But why was I detained? I did not know, neither those who brought me nor the senior DB officials could say anything.
He further wrote, “After many days, I realized that I was detained for giving exclusive business to only 9 mobile phone traders on the orders of a government advisor. The organization’s secretary, Abu Saeed Pias, was also detained with me. He is still in the DB office.”
Sohail further wrote, “Today (Wednesday) the mobile handset traders’ organization, Business Community Bangladesh (MBCB), was supposed to hold a press conference at DRU on the National Equipment Identification Register. I was there as a media consultant. Their main goal was to stop that press conference. But unfortunately for them, the entire country understood for what purpose they wanted to stop the press conference.”
NEIR is clearly in conflict with the country’s free trade policy, this journalist wrote, “There is also a competition commission in the country to ensure competition. However, there is a deep conspiracy going on to bring 25,000 mobile phone traders across the country on the streets to benefit only 9 traders.” If this project is implemented, many people, including the common people of the village, expatriates, will be in danger. A chain will be broken. Many businessmen will be trapped. It is good to know that one of these 9 people is a school friend of that advisor.
Questioning why the government is afraid to speak out against a business syndicate, he said, “Did I have to be forced to move it late at night just to stop a press conference? Did those who talk about ‘freedom of speech’ organize it to silence me?” Is this the real picture of freedom of speech in Mugher Mulluk?
