Special Correspondent //

A post by the Facebook ID of Awami League Presidium member and former Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Lt. Col. (retd.) Faruk Khan, who is in prison on charges of genocide during the student-public movement in July-August, has gone viral.

The post was uploaded from his verified ID on Monday (February 3) evening.

In the post, he said about Awami League politics, “I will say this much, I accepted Sheikh Hasina as the leader, but today our party has this fate because of her stubbornness. We should not return to any kind of politics without a change in the party leadership and a cleansing campaign at all levels. I don’t want Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League anymore, I want Bangabandhu’s Awami League back. Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu.”

However, this explosive comment has raised questions, how did the former minister get a mobile phone and internet in prison? Or is his verified Facebook ID under someone else’s control?

The Keraniganj Central Prison authorities in Dhaka sent a press release on Monday night regarding this. It was signed by the Assistant Inspector General of Prisons (Development) of the Prisons Department.

The press release said that a screenshot of a post by a Facebook ID named Faruk Khan on Monday is being shared, spreading confusion that it was promoted by former minister Colonel (retd) Faruk Khan, who is detained in prison. The prison authorities are confirming that such promotion or running Facebook from prison is not possible.

It also said that he is currently detained in Dhaka Central Prison Keraniganj. No prisoner detained in prison is allowed to use a mobile phone. It is not possible to operate that ID from the prison of former minister Colonel (retd) Faruk Khan. However, the prison department does not know whether someone else or his relatives are operating the ID named Faruk Khan. The law enforcement agencies have been requested to investigate the matter and take necessary action.

Farooq Khan’s status instantly went viral on social media. Many people shared his status. Seeing Farooq Khan’s Facebook post, many people asked how he used Facebook and how he used his mobile phone from prison? Many expressed doubts about whether it was his post and personal opinion. After being arrested by law enforcement on October 15, he is currently detained in the Keraniganj Central Jail.

In this regard, Dhaka Divisional Prisons Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Jahangir Kabir said that prisoners in prison do not have the opportunity to use their personal phones. Therefore, there is no question of him using Facebook while sitting in prison. The information about using Facebook while sitting in prison is not correct.

Earlier, former minister Farooq Khan posted two posts on his verified Facebook account. In the first post, he is shaking hands with former President Abdul Hamid Khan at an armed forces program. The next post said, ‘I came online after trying a lot. The four walls of the prison make us stand in front of our own selves. I want to say a lot, but I can’t say it all right now.’ However, half an hour after posting this, his verified Facebook ID is no longer available.

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