Ban on free messaging apps!

BTRC has established a disquieting example by shutting down free-internet based messaging services, that too without any prior notice. On January 17, the telecom authority banned Viber and Tango for two days. Later they extended the ban upto 11.59 pm of January 21. Meanwhile, the telecom authority has shut down another popular app, WhatsApp, on Monday. According to BTRC, the decision was taken on directives from an intelligence agency and the home ministry, apparently in an attempt to prevent protesters from exchanging information evading monitoring. But the purported reason for maintaining law and order at the expense of people's right to free flow information and freedom of expression seems untenable. It rather shows the authority's penchant for muzzling dissents.

In recent years, these free-internet massaging apps have become very popular as people can communicate free of cost with their friends and relatives, particularly those living abroad. It has also been widely used as a lucrative and profitable business medium for entrepreneurs. While the government talks about digital Bangladesh, this move to restrict modern communication apps is self contradictory.

Previously, the government blocked various social sites like facebook and YouTube on occasions which proved later to be futile. According to experts, without hampering the cybernetic communication of general people, security software can be integrated with any cyber communicative tool to monitor communication between criminals. We urge the authority to lift the ban on the free messaging services immediately. It should emphasis more on developing skills on cyber security than gagging free flow of information.