Staff Correspondent:

The National Cyber Security Agency has sent a letter to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) asking for the shutdown of websites, Facebook pages, YouTube channels and other platforms linked to the Awami League and its affiliated organisations.

The government has already issued a gazette banning the activities of AL. This ban also includes its cyber activities, Ministry of Information and Communication Technology’s secretary Shish Haider Chowdhury told on Wednesday (May 14).

However, he said that the final decision on this matter will be made by the authorities of the social media platforms.

Based on this letter, the BTRC will send letters to the parent companies of Facebook, Meta, X and YouTube to take necessary actions. They will verify the matter according to their policies and make a decision accordingly.

Meanwhile, broadband internet providers and mobile operators said that they will take measures to prevent AL from conducting campaigns through their networks, as per the government’s instructions.

On May 12, the government issued a gazette banning all activities of the Awami League and its affiliated, associate and allied organisations until the completion of the trial at the International Criminal Tribunal.

The decree bans all publications, media, online and social media campaigns, processions, meetings and conferences by these organisations under the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Ordinance.