Official defends YouTube block in Bangladesh

Shame on Bangladeshi Democracy!

For last 2/3 days, bloggers from different parts of Bangladesh were talking about YouTube, esnips.com that either they can’t visit these sites or these sites are loading very slow. Some people also proved that Bangladesh Government might have blocked these sites.

Today according to BDNews24, Retired Brigadier General Zia Ahmed, Chairman of Bangladesh Telecom Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has admitted the truth and said “The government can take any decision to stop any activity that threatens national unity and integrity …. Nothing has been done which is beyond the jurisdiction of the government”.

All started when an audio on the proceedings of the Mar 1 meeting between prime minister Sheikh Hasina and hundreds of army officers at the Dhaka cantonment in the wake of the Feb 25-26 BDR mutiny was posted on both the sites, and visitors passed on the links through emails.

In Awami League’s manifesto, present ruling party, AL said if they win, they will give most importance in developing Digital Bangladesh. Moreover, government is also urging that they won’t hide anything about Feb 25-26 BDR Mutiny from the people when just a leaked conversation caused blockage of these two popular websites.

I guess IT specialists in Bangladesh government don’t know that blocking a site is not the END of the story! Bloggers, Internet community is spreading those audio clips using their email, sharing proxy address – Are you going to stop all the email service providers, proxy servers in the world? Better Bangladesh government should cut the submarine cable and satellite connection and keep the people be in the dark!

Come on, Prime Minister where is your Democracy … let the people know what they want to know!