A case under Digital Security Act was filed against Golam Maula Rony and five others over a leaked phone conversation, in which the BNP’s Patuakhali 3 candidate was reportedly speaking with an aide to stage an attack on his own campaign.
In the case statement, the plaintiff Mehedi Masud, an associate professor of Golachipa Mohila College and joint convener of Awami League's Patuakhali-3 election conducting committee, wrote that Rony ordered an unidentified supporter to cordon off a police station and to file a case against Awami League supporters accusing them for attacking his wife and damaging his car.
The five other accused in the case are - Rony's bother Sarwar, brother-in-law Makbul, BNP leader Shahjahan Khan, his son Shiplu Khan and Shah Alam Shanu.
Also Read- Golam Moula Rony, wife, supporters attacked in Patuakhali
Rony and his family members are accused of staging an attack on his own campaign at Galachipa on December 15 “by which they undermined law and order and threatened security,” wrote Mehedi.
The audio, which could not be independently verified, of the said conversation has quickly become viral on social media and became the talk of the Golachipa and Dashmina, the upazilas under Patuakhali 3 constituency, reports UNB.
In the clip, Rony was 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.”
Several media reports identified the aide as Md Shahjahan Khan, a former president of the BNP unit at Galachipa.
Also Read- Golam Maula Rony joins BNP, gets nomination
On December 15, a vehicle carrying Rony’s wife Kamrunnahar Runu came under attack and was vandalized at Madina Masjid area in Golachipa upazila. Soon after the incident, Rony accused Awami League supporters for the incident, and further claimed that his wife’s jewellery was snatched.
Rony, a former Awami League lawmaker, joined BNP last month and immediately received nomination for Patuakhali 3.
When contacted, Rony questioned the validity of the case, saying: “The High Court has observed that noone except the victims' party can file complaints over an incident.”
“The police, by refusing to record my wife’s complaint, have violated the law. Now we are the ones being framed by this case,” said the much-talked-about leader.