Govt unblocks Facebook, finally

No decision on other apps

The government removed access restrictions on the popular social networking site, Facebook, across the country yesterday (Thursday). The restrictions were in place for 22 days.
But no decision was taken to unblock Viber, WhatsApp, Tango, Mypeople and Line.  Without informing the people, the authorities blocked Facebook, Viber, WhatsApp, Messenger, Line, Tango, Hangouts and other such sites on 18 November, citing security reasons.
At a press briefing at the conference room of the telecommunications ministry, state minister Tarana Halim asked the chairman of the Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (BTRC), Sahjahan Mahmud, to open access to Facebook.
“We were told by the authorities to remove access-restrictions on Facebook, as the terror threat has declined. We are yet to get instructions to unblock sites like Viber and WhatsApp,” she said.
The state minister hopped that no sabotage would be committed after reopening of Facebook.
Tarana admitted that people involved in business through Facebook were affected.
She warned that they will block Facebook in future, if the need arises.
The authorities blocked the social networking sites to prevent any untoward incident and any possible spread of propaganda, following the executions of war crimes convicts Salauddin Quader Chowdhury and Ali Ahsan Muhammad Mujahid.
Taking into consideration the inconvenience faced by people, Facebook was reopened, sources in the home and the telecommunications ministries said.
After the social networking sites were blocked, Tarana Halim had faced questions from her colleagues on how long the sites would remain blocked.
She told them that access to the social networking sites were blocked on security considerations.
These would be made accessible after getting clearance from the home ministry.
Home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal also said the same thing.
On November 11, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had said in Parliament that Internet-based messaging and voice-call services WhatsApp and Viber would be blocked temporarily, when needed, to catch militants and prevent terrorist activities in the country.
“Some people are carrying out criminal activities by misusing these services. Therefore, I will suspend operation of these apps for some days, when needed, to arrest the perpetrators,” she said.

Govt unblocks Facebook, finally

No decision on other apps

The government removed access restrictions on the popular social networking site, Facebook, across the country yesterday (Thursday). The restrictions were in place for 22 days. But no decision was taken to unblock Viber, WhatsApp, Tango, Mypeople and Line. Without informing the people, the authorities blocked Facebook, Viber, WhatsApp, Messenger, Line, Tango, Hangouts and other such sites on 18 November, citing security reasons. At a press briefing at the conference room of the telecommunications ministry, state minister Tarana Halim asked the chairman of the Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (BTRC), Sahjahan Mahmud, to open access to Facebook. We were told by the authorities to remove access-restrictions on Facebook, as the terror threat has declined. We are yet to get instructions to unblock sites like Viber and WhatsApp, she said. The state minister hopped that no sabotage would be committed after reopening of Facebook. Tarana admitted that people involved in business through Facebook were affected. She warned that they will block Facebook in future, if the need arises. The authorities blocked the social networking sites to prevent any untoward incident and any possible spread of propaganda, following the executions of war crimes convicts Salauddin Quader Chowdhury and Ali Ahsan Muhammad Mujahid. Taking into consideration the inconvenience faced by people, Facebook was reopened, sources in the home and the telecommunications ministries said. After the social networking sites were blocked, Tarana Halim had faced questions from her colleagues on how long the sites would remain blocked. She told them that access to the social networking sites were blocked on security considerations. These would be made accessible after getting clearance from the home ministry. Home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal also said the same thing. On November 11, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had said in Parliament that Internet-based messaging and voice-call services WhatsApp and Viber would be blocked temporarily, when needed, to catch militants and prevent terrorist activities in the country. Some people are carrying out criminal activities by misusing these services. Therefore, I will suspend operation of these apps for some days, when needed, to arrest the perpetrators, she said.