No govt plans to block Facebook, assures Tarana

The state minister for posts and telecommunications, Tarana Halim, has assured people that the social networking site, Facebook, will not be blocked for any particular period. “We will not block Facebook. The government hasn’t taken any such decision,” she categorically stated at a press conference at her ministry office yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon. The state minister clarified the government's position, against the backdrop of media reports that the authorities are contemplating blocking Facebook from 12 midnight to 6am every day. Tarana said the Posts and Telecommunications Division yesterday sent the Bangladesh Telecommuni-cation Regulatory Commission’s (BTRC’s) opinion on the issue to the Cabinet Division. Technically, it is not possible to regulate Facebook for a certain period, she added. Terming the seeking of the Cabinet Division’s opinion as “routine”, the state minister said it does not mean that a decision has been taken. “The government has shown people how to use the social media, including Facebook. So, it will not take measures that will block the way for digitisation,” said Tarana. The Posts and Telecommunications Division secretary, Shyam Sundar Shikder, was present. In a letter, the Cabinet Division sought the BTRC’s opinion on blocking Facebook from 12 midnight to 6am.

No govt plans to block Facebook, assures Tarana

The state minister for posts and telecommunications, Tarana Halim, has assured people that the social networking site, Facebook, will not be blocked for any particular period. We will not block Facebook. The government hasnt taken any such decision, she categorically stated at a press conference at her ministry office yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon. The state minister clarified the governments position, against the backdrop of media reports that the authorities are contemplating blocking Facebook from 12 midnight to 6am every day. Tarana said the Posts and Telecommunications Division yesterday sent the Bangladesh Telecommuni-cation Regulatory Commissions (BTRCs) opinion on the issue to the Cabinet Division. Technically, it is not possible to regulate Facebook for a certain period, she added. Terming the seeking of the Cabinet Divisions opinion as routine, the state minister said it does not mean that a decision has been taken. The government has shown people how to use the social media, including Facebook. So, it will not take measures that will block the way for digitisation, said Tarana. The Posts and Telecommunications Division secretary, Shyam Sundar Shikder, was present. In a letter, the Cabinet Division sought the BTRCs opinion on blocking Facebook from 12 midnight to 6am.