Monitoring Desk
ISLAMABAD/DHAKA: The government of Bangladesh has ordered blocking 191 news websites it accused of publishing “anti-state news”, stoking concerns about social media and media freedom in the South Asian country.
Hasan Mahmud, Information Minister, said in the parliament that the Bangladeshi government instructed the telecoms regulator to close domains following “reports from intelligence agencies”. He said that the sites, which weren’t named, were “carrying out activities that spread confusion among the citizens”.
Foreign governments and Campaigners, including the United States (US), have long expressed worries about efforts by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to silence criticism.
Regional director, Faruq Faisel of media rights watchdog ARTICLE 19 South Asia, said that the government should not try to control the flow of the internet and social media,”
‘’Move to block websites could hamper freedom of expression’’
He also said that “the move to block news sites could hamper freedom of expression in the country. It could pave the way for spreading misinformation and disinformation,”.
Asked about the website blocking order, Stephane Dujarric, a spokesman for the United Nations (UN) secretary general, said that freedom of expression “needed protecting”. Journalists “have the right to be able to operate their news sites and social media openly and freely, and we want to see positive movement in that direction”, he said.
International Press Freedom Index ranked Bangladesh at 162, worse than Afghanistan (156) and Russia (155).
