Bangladesh blocks Facebook

DHAKA: Bangladesh on Saturday temporarily blocked the social network Facebook amid demands by a radical organisation to ban the website for hurting sentiments of Muslims.

No official comment was immediately available for the closure of the popular network. However, an official source on condition of anonymity said that the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) blocked it on directives from the government.

The private bdnews24 news agency said the measure was taken on a request from the elite anti-crime Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) as users suddenly were barred from logging into the network since 6.30 pm.

A RAB spokesman, however, rejected the report, saying no request was made on their behalf to block the network.

The development came two days after the leader of the radical Islamic Shashantantrik Andolon, Fazlul Haque Amini, demanded a ban on the network for reported posting of materials hurting Muslim religious sentiments.



A row erupted in Pakistan when it recently decided to cut off access to Facebook till May 31 over a page featuring blasphemous cartoons of Prophet Mohammed.

Bangladesh government-run BSS news agency earlier today reported that the RAB troops arrested a "cyber criminal" of the city on charges of "cyber crimes".

It said detained Rodin recently posted "objectionable, disfigured and satirical photographs" of several government leaders using different accounts.