Phone conversation leak worries many ministers, MPs and leaders

Many ministers, lawmakers and ruling party leaders have become worried over phone conversation leaks as leaked calls with an actress saw the downfall of former state minister Murad Hassan. The leaders fear that anyone's personal conversation can be leaked anytime.

Talking with many ministers, lawmakers and leaders, it was learnt that they think the vulgar, misogynist comments Murad had made publicly were enough to take disciplinary action against him. But suddenly the leaked conversations between the junior minister and the actress started to do rounds on social media. Many leaders think it was made public without any knowledge of government high-ups.

A top leader of the ruling Awami League, on condition of anonymity, told Prothom Alo that the government and the party leadership have a scope to rethink over leaked personal conversations once the issue related to Murad is settled. None of the leaders wanted to make any comment on the issue on record.

The AL insiders think it is worrisome if Murad's phone conversations were leaked by someone authorised to tap phone calls. Most of the phone conversations leaked earlier were of opposition leaders.

A minister on condition of anonymity told Prothom Alo that there is a general belief that phone conversations of ministers and leaders are tapped. Many important political figures thus avoid discussing important issues over the phone and prefer taking on apps with encrypted technology. As the leaked conversations of Murad were of two years ago, the leaders worry about the possibility that such conversations of their own made 5-10 years ago get leaked to the public.

The minister thinks political leaders, especially ruling party ones, often make comments without thinking about the consequences.

There have been some leaked conversations over the last 10 years. Prime minister Sheikh Hasina called then opposition leader Khaleda Zia on 29 October 2013 before the tenth general election. Given the political uncertainty and violence at that time, people had a keen interest in the conversation between two leaders. That conversation was leaked within a day.

Hours before the phone call got leaked, then information minister Hasanul Haq Inu had told journalists that the phone conversation should be made open so that people can know what the leaders discussed about the political unrest. Two private channels broadcast the conversation that night and some other media followed suit the following day.

A phone conversation between Nagorik Oikya convenor Mahmudur Rahman Manna and Dhaka city mayor BNP leader Sadeque Hossain Khoka was leaked in February 2015. Law enforcers later detained Manna and he spent 21 months in jail.

Phone conversations of some leaders of Hefazat e Islam were leaked following protest and violence over Indian prime minister Narendra Modi’s Bangladesh visit last March.

The government got unbridled power to tap phone calls of citizens through the amendment of the Telecommunications Act in 2006. Under section 97(Ka), the government may empower certain authorities including intelligence agencies, national security agencies, investigation agencies, or any officer of any law enforcement agency to record any voice call on the grounds of national security and public order.

The law enforcers last July arrested Awami League’s women affairs subcommittee member Helena Jahangir. Later model Faria Mahbub Piyasha, Mariam Akter Mou, actress Por Moni, director Nazrul Islam Raz and some others were arrested on various allegations. The law enforcers alleged that they are accused of ‘blackmailing’ influential and wealthy persons. It was heard that the arrested persons had secret audios-videos with some influential persons of the government and AL. Those arrests said to have worried the influential persons. The drive against those models soon end, much to the respite of the influential quarters.

A central AL leader on condition of anonymity told Prothom Alo that the politicians have nothing to worry much about the leak of conversation related to politics. Although such conversations get criticized, they may not end someone's political career. But leakage of personal ‘scandal’ destroys ones social life as well as political career.

Another leader said it is normal that every move of a politician would be under the public scanner and those who cannot practice restraint should face the consequence.

He thinks there should the fall of Murad Hassan should serve as a lesson.

Asked about the discomfort of some ruling party leaders over leaked phone calls, noted lawyer Shahdeen Malik told Prothom Alo, “It’s a matter of concern. But those who abuse power or apply any ill-tactics on others cannot often think initially that they can be victims too.”