Bangladesh Government has lifted a ban on all social media due to some security related issues, according to the officials reported on Monday. All the social networking platforms including Twitter, Skype, IMO were blocked by the Government of Bangladesh. The decision of lifting the ban on social media has been confirmed officially to Xinhua news agency by a Bangladeshi State Minister for Post and Telecommunications Tarana Halim. The government took the decision to lift the ban after the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) passed a new instruction to block three more online voice and messaging services – Twitter, Skype, IMO.
A couple of days ago, the BRTC asked all the mobile phone operators and telecom service providers to suspend the three popular services such as Twitter, Skype, IMO immediately. It has blocked all the popular service after a 22-day ban on Facebook was lifted. Added Skype, Twitter, WhatsApp and Viber to the list of banned messaging apps.
“All social media have been opened. They are now available across Bangladesh,” Halim said.
“Directives have already been sent to the relevant authorities for taking necessary steps to unblock all social media platforms including Skype, Twitter, WhatsApp and Viber,” he said.
According to the reports, BRTC blocked Facebook, WhatsApp and Viber on November 18 for security concerns soon after the country’s apex court passed judgments supporting the death sentences of two prominent opposition leaders also, criminals Salauddin Quader Chowdhury and Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed. They have been sentenced to death as they executed for war crimes committed during the Liberation War of 1971.
Temporary Ban Affected Businesses Based on Digital Networks
It is for the first time in its history, the Bangladeshi government reportedly shut down the Internet temporarily in the country on that day for over an hour. The temporary ban has affected businesses and other services that are completely dependent on the digital networks.
Ban on the social media have been imposed on security grounds, Halim said, adding, “We’ve decided to open all social media platforms as there are no more security concerns now.”
Authorities lifted a 22-day ban on Facebook last Thursday, following a meeting between the government and Facebook officials. At the meeting, the minister thanked Internet users for “keeping patience” during the ban. Hundreds of youths protested on the streets earlier this month, marking the move an attack on freedom of expression.
Halim earlier said Facebook and other social networking platforms will be opened after directives come from the home affairs ministry once ensuring the security concerns of the country and its people. Earlier on Monday, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said there are no current intimidations to Bangladesh.