Bangladesh blocks Viber and Tango over security
Bangladeshi officials have blocked Internet calling and messaging services Viber and Tango following a request by law enforcement agencies, citing security concerns.
The voice and messaging services will remain disabled in the South Asian country for a limited time, said Sarwar Alam, an official at Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission, on Sunday.
Police officials say a number of vandals used the applications earlier this month to organize criminal activities.
“We have information that those who had been issuing directives through mobile phones to carry out subversive activities had stopped using their phones and were using Viber and Tango instead,” a police official said, adding, “We have had proofs of such instructions for carrying out subversive activities in the last two to three days.”
The measure came after over 20 people were killed in clashes following a call by Bangladesh Nationalist Party chief, Khaleda Zia, for a nationwide transport blockade as part of efforts to topple the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and pave the way for new elections.
Former premier Zia, who ordered the blockade on January 6, has remained confined in her office at the opposition headquarters in the capital, Dhaka.
Since the start of the blockade, a large number of cars and buses have been set ablaze or damaged and several trains have been derailed.
Hasina, who was re-elected on January 5, 2014, has warned Zia of “dire consequences” if the raids continue. The election had been boycotted by the opposition in the country.
MSM/ NT/SS
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