DHAKA — Bangladesh on Wednesday blocked social networking site Facebook and several other micro-blogging platforms for security reasons.
"The government has decided to suspend operation of six social networking platforms," Sarwar Alam, secretary of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Authority said.
The directives were sent out to all mobile phone operators and internet service providers, he said adding that the operation of Facebook, Messenger, Viber, WhatsApp, Line and Tango will be suspended until further notice.
Internet connection across Bangladesh remained suspended for nearly an hour Wednesday as the regulator shut the International Gateway to execute the government decision, an official said.
In the wake of recent attacks on secularist bloggers, publishers and foreign nationals by suspected Islamists in Bangladesh, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina earlier this month hinted that she would order suspension of the platforms.
She said attackers might have taken advantage of the internet applications.
The government suspended operation of Facebook and YouTube for a week in June 2010 after a section of people uploaded controversial images that hurt religious sentiments of the Muslims.
Earlier in January, the regulator blocked mobile applications Viber, WhatsApp, Tango, Mypeople and Line in Bangladesh for four days, also citing security reasons.
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Source: Bangladesh blocks Facebook, other micro-blogging networks
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