Staff Reporter :
Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) blocked the telecommunications application Skype.com on Monday without mentioning any reason.
Several senior BTRC officials confirmed this conditioning anonymity and said the telecom regulator blocked the Skype.com Sunday night and its mobile application on Monday.
Though the BTRC did not mention reason, it seems that the step has been taken as BNP Acting Chairman
Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) blocked the telecommunications application Skype.com on Monday without mentioning any reason.
Several senior BTRC officials confirmed this conditioning anonymity and said the telecom regulator blocked the Skype.com Sunday night and its mobile application on Monday.
Though the BTRC did not mention reason, it seems that the step has been taken as BNP Acting Chairman
Tarique Rahman, convicted accused of several cases including August 21 grenade attack, interviewing the nomination aspirants of the party from London through Skype, they said requesting not to be named.
The BTRC issued the order to all the international internet gateways, internet service providers, all mobile operators, they added.
A top office barrier of the Internet Service Provider Association of Bangladesh said after getting the order they have complied within a few hours and the country is now out of service of this communication tools.
“However other communication channels and applications are open for video chat and a wider range of video conference,” said the leader requesting anonymity.
BNP has condemned the BTRC’s step saying that it is done to stop Tarique Rahman’s conversation with party people.
Earlier in 2015, the government had blocked almost all the communication application as a wholesale basis, including Facebook, Whatsapp, Viber and other applications immediately after the Supreme Court pronounced its verdict maintaining its previous ruling that upheld death penalty of two war criminals.
In August this year, ICT and Telecom Minister Mustafa Jabbar said they will consider blocking any social media site like Facebook again and if needed. Internet could be also shut down to save the state and citizens of the country.
Through video conference, Tarique, who has been staying in London since 2008, on Sunday interviewed 540 nomination seekers from 72 constituencies of 16 districts in the two divisions at the BNP chief’s Gulshan office.
Tarique, who was sentenced to 17 years in prison in two corruption cases and life imprisonment in the August 21 grenade attack, also interviewed the nomination aspirants on Monday, on the second day of the nomination process of BNP.
The Awami League questioned his inclusion in the BNP nomination board and drew the Election Commission’s attention to the issue.
The BTRC issued the order to all the international internet gateways, internet service providers, all mobile operators, they added.
A top office barrier of the Internet Service Provider Association of Bangladesh said after getting the order they have complied within a few hours and the country is now out of service of this communication tools.
“However other communication channels and applications are open for video chat and a wider range of video conference,” said the leader requesting anonymity.
BNP has condemned the BTRC’s step saying that it is done to stop Tarique Rahman’s conversation with party people.
Earlier in 2015, the government had blocked almost all the communication application as a wholesale basis, including Facebook, Whatsapp, Viber and other applications immediately after the Supreme Court pronounced its verdict maintaining its previous ruling that upheld death penalty of two war criminals.
In August this year, ICT and Telecom Minister Mustafa Jabbar said they will consider blocking any social media site like Facebook again and if needed. Internet could be also shut down to save the state and citizens of the country.
Through video conference, Tarique, who has been staying in London since 2008, on Sunday interviewed 540 nomination seekers from 72 constituencies of 16 districts in the two divisions at the BNP chief’s Gulshan office.
Tarique, who was sentenced to 17 years in prison in two corruption cases and life imprisonment in the August 21 grenade attack, also interviewed the nomination aspirants on Monday, on the second day of the nomination process of BNP.
The Awami League questioned his inclusion in the BNP nomination board and drew the Election Commission’s attention to the issue.
