bdnews24.com :
‘Digital Awami League’, ‘Digital Chhatra League’ and ‘Digital Awami Olama League’ are some groups with digital visibility in Dhaka.
Digital banners and festoons with names and images of their leaders have sprouted up on the back of government’s efforts to building ‘Digital Bangladesh’.
Many of these organisations use the address of ruling Awami League’s headquarters at Bangabandhu Avenue. However, leaders of Awami League and its associates say these organisations are unauthorised and have nothing to do with the ruling party.
They even allege these ‘digital’ organisations are indulging in extortion.
“They are extorting money from people flauting these digital organisations,” one of them told bdnews24.com.
These organisations came into existence after Awami League President Sheikh Hasina announced her government would build a ‘Digital’ Bangladesh.
Some of the organisations have Facebook pages with no post and detail.
They are also not involved in any activity connected with building a digital Bangladesh.
They just exist in the banners and festoons hung along streets.
Such banners and festoons of ‘Bangabandhu Digital Awami Prajanma League’ and ‘Digital Awami Olama League’ were seen along the streets from Tikatuli intersection to Gandaria Railway Station.
Mohammad Shaheen, who claims to be the convener of the Shyampur unit of ‘Bangabandhu Digital Awami Prajanma League’, greeted the organisation’s President Nasir Uddin Bhuyian and General Secretary Al Amin Hawlader in the banners and festoons.
Such banners and festoons were also seen at Joy Kali Temple intersection and Tikatuli intersection.
But the names of president and general secretary of ‘Digital Awami Olama League’ were not mentioned in those banners and festoons, though their images along with that of other activists were printed on them.
‘Digital Awami League’, ‘Digital Chhatra League’ and ‘Digital Awami Muktijoddha Prajanma League’ have their Facebook pages where they claim to operate out of 23, Bangabandhu Avenue, the central office of Awami League.
But their offices could not be located at that address.
Awami League Organising Secretary Ahmad Hossain told this news agency. “In the organisational structure of the Awami League, there is no way such organisations would be approved and authorised to function.”
According to the party structure, its associate organisations are clearly identified-Juba League, Krishak League, Swechchhasebak League, Awami Ainjibi Parishad, Juba Mohila League, Mohila Awami League and Tanti League. The sister organisations are Chhatra League and Sramik League.
But central leaders of Awami League were seen attending programmes organised by these ‘digital’ organisations.
“They speak about our party and its ideologies. Anyone can speak about the ideals of Bangabandhu,” said Ahmad Hossain.
Some of the Awami League leaders indicated that these organisations were involved in extortion.
One of them, requesting anonymity, said: “Where did they get the money to put up so many banners and festoons?”
“They promote their names more than the party ideals and then by using that, they take advantage in many places,” he said.
Awami League Presidium Member Obaidul Quader has long been upset with these groups.
“It hurts me most when I see images of extortionists, touts, land grabbers beside that of Bangabandhu. I don’t want this,” he once said and urged the leaders and activists of the party to tear down these banners and festoons whenever they see them.
The leaders of the ‘digital’ organisations could not be reached even by using their Facebook pages despite repeated attempts.
