The BNP has been unable to upload its manifesto for the 11th National Election and make it available to the masses due to their official website being blocked for the last eight days.
Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) shut down the opposition party’s website along with 58 others on Dec 9 on grounds of “spreading rumours.”
BTRC ordered the International Internet Gateways (IIGs) to shut down 58 online news portals in the country on Dec 9. The procedure was complete by Dec 10.
Although on Dec 11, five of the web portals amongst the 58 were reopened, BNP’s was not on that list.
BNP Senior Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi claims that the government did it on purpose. He said that’s the reason they have been unable to upload the polls manifesto that they rolled out earlier on Tuesday (Dec 18).
“BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia inaugurated the site on Sep 1, 2016,” Rizvi told the media on Monday (Dec 12).
He said that the government's decision to shut down the website was politically motivated and that it “not only deprives people of their democratic right but the opposition of its right to technology.”
He condemned the shutting down of the website and demanded that it be reopened.
Meanwhile, BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khasru said on Tuesday that they had been showered with phone calls since the manifesto had been unveiled, as people are not being able to access it.
“We have issued a letter to the Election Commission so that they can take necessary steps,” Khasru added.
However, BTRC claims that the website been shut down for reasons tied to “state security.”
“BTRC is responsible for drafting the state’s telecommunication policies and regulating them. Their website has been shut down keeping the state’s security in mind,” BTRC Assistant Director Zakir Hossain told Bangla Tribune.