M M Jasim :
The government is yet to take any decision about reactivating the social media including Facebook, Messenger, Viber and WhatsApp, which were shut citing security reason on last Wednesday.
Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) officials are waiting for the green signal of the government in this regard, the BRTC sources said. Meanwhile, the Home Ministry, the Telecommunication Ministry and the BTRC sources said, facebook and some others social media will be unlocked soon. But some important apps will remain shut until the country’s overall security becomes normal.
An official of the BTRC wishing anonymity told The New Nation on Monday that the law enforcing agencies are observing and analysing the security of the country. After getting assurance of the agencies the home ministry will inform the Telecommunication Ministry to reactivate the social media. They are now just waiting for the order of the ministry, he said.
Posts and Telecommunications State Minister Tarana Halim on Monday said that there was no news of subversive activities after the government’s initiative of blocking the social media for security reason across the country.
“Many untoward incidents occurred after the previous executions. But no seditious incident happened after the execution of the latest two war criminals,” the state minister said.
Tarana Halim said the social media including facebook would remain block until the security situation of the country is normal.
She also claimed there was no man, who is annoyed with the government decision.
The junior minister said, the government has the right to stop anything for the security of the country’s people.
On the other hand, millions of social media users, particularly those who are youths, are still annoyed with the government decision to shut the social media.
“We have been facing problem since Wednesday. We urge the government to unlock the social media as soon as possible,” said Atiqul Islam, a resident of Gulshan area who is active in Facebook and others social media.
He also suggested the government to develop skills to face cyber crimes instead of stopping the social media.
Jabed Iqbal, a facebook user, said the facebook users are not happy with the government’s decision because it encourages people to make the country digital. So, how the people will be digital if the government stops social media? He questioned.
It may be mentioned that the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (BTRC) on Wednesday blocked the operation of social networking platforms-‘Facebook’, ‘Messenger’, ‘Viber’ and ‘WhatsApp’ for security reason. A letter from the BTRC asked different telecom operators and all Internet service providers to stop the services immediately.
The blocking became activated from the morning of the day immediately after the Supreme Court upheld death penalty awarded to war crimes convicted BNP leader Salauddin Quader Chowdhury and Jamaat leader Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed.
