Highlights:
- DUCSU VP candidate Abidul Islam alleges his Facebook account was disabled ahead of the election.
- He blames it on a planned cyber-attack to weaken his campaign.
- Abid and his team had been using Facebook as a major campaign tool.
- JCD GS candidate Sheikh Tanvir criticizes the attack, calling it an attempt to silence voices.
Abid Expresses Concern Over Cyber-Attack
Abidul Islam, the Vice President (VP) candidate nominated by Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) for the upcoming Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) election, has alleged that his Facebook account was intentionally disabled as part of a cyber-attack.
He shared this experience during a press conference held at Dhaka University on Monday (8 September).
Abid said:
“আগেই সাইবার অ্যাটাকের শঙ্কা করেছিলাম। আজ সেই শঙ্কাই সত্যি হলো। সকালে ঘুম থেকে উঠে বাহিরে বের হওয়ার প্রস্ততি নেয়ার সময় দেখলাম ফেসবুক আইডি ডিজেবল হয়ে গেছে।”
Translation: “I had already feared a cyber-attack. Today, that fear became true. When I woke up in the morning and was getting ready to go out, I saw that my Facebook account was disabled.”
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Facebook Account Disabled Twice
DUCSU VP Candidate Abid further explained that after his account was first disabled, he appealed by submitting various proofs and successfully restored it. After regaining access, he made a post warning students to remain alert. However, within just an hour of that post, the account was disabled again.
He added:
“ফেসবুক আইডি ডিজেবল হওয়ার পর বিভিন্ন প্রমাণ দিয়ে আপিল করে ফিরিয়ে আনা হয়েছিল। আইডিটি ফিরে পাওয়ার পর একটি পোস্টের মাধ্যমে শিক্ষার্থীদের সতর্ক থাকার কথা বলেছিলাম। এর প্রায় ঘণ্টাখানেক পর আইডিটি আবারও ডিজেবল করে দেয়া হয়। আপিল করা হয়েছে। কিন্তু নির্বাচনের আগে আইডিটি ফিরে পাব কিনা জানি না।”
Translation: “After my Facebook account was disabled, I appealed with evidence and managed to recover it. Once I got it back, I posted a warning for students to stay alert. But within an hour, it was disabled again. I have appealed once more, but I am not sure whether I will get it back before the election.”
Campaign Hampered by Account Loss
DUCSU VP Candidate Abid emphasized that his campaign largely depended on Facebook, which helped him reach a wide number of students. He claimed that those who could not confront him politically were now targeting him digitally.
He stated:
“ফেসবুক আইডি দিয়ে আমরা নির্বাচনের প্রচার চালাচ্ছিলাম। তা প্রচুর মানুষের কাছেও পৌঁছাচ্ছিল। রাজনৈতিকভাবে আমাদের মোকাবেলা করতে ব্যর্থ হয়ে একটি পক্ষ এই সাইবার অ্যাটাক চালিয়েছে।”
Translation: “We were running our campaign through Facebook, and it was reaching a large number of people. Failing to confront us politically, one group has carried out this cyber-attack.”
Fighting Against Invisible Forces
DUCSU VP Candidate Abid also recalled his earlier struggles against what he called political mismanagement and unhealthy practices at Dhaka University. According to him, after August 5, the fight has shifted to resisting invisible forces who do not believe in students’ rights.
He remarked:
“৫ আগস্টের আগেও ঢাকা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ে রাজনৈতিক অপসংস্কৃতির বিরুদ্ধে লড়াই করেছি। ৫ আগস্টের পর সুস্থ রাজনীতির চর্চা করতে গিয়ে একটি অদৃশ্য শক্তির বিরুদ্ধে লড়াই করতে হচ্ছে। যারা শিক্ষার্থীদের মানবাধিকারে বিশ্বাস করে না ও তাদের মতপ্রকাশকে ভয় পায়।”
Translation: “Before August 5, I fought against the political mismanagement at Dhaka University. After August 5, in the practice of healthy politics, I am fighting against an invisible force that does not believe in students’ rights and fears their freedom of expression.”
GS Candidate’s Reaction
Sheikh Tanvir Bari Hamim, the General Secretary (GS) candidate from JCD, also spoke out against the attack. He compared it to the past incidents of abduction and disappearance of political voices.
He said:
“আগে দেশের পক্ষে কথা বললে গুম করা হতো, আর এখন সাইবার অ্যাটাক করা হচ্ছে। যারা সাইবার অ্যাটাক দিচ্ছে তাদের বিরুদ্ধে আগামীকাল ভোটাররা ব্যালট অ্যাটাক দিবে।”
Translation: “Earlier, if anyone spoke in favor of the country, they would be abducted. Now cyber-attacks are being carried out. Tomorrow, voters will respond with a ballot attack against those behind these cyber-attacks.”
Source: Jamuna TV
