Bangladesh government directs BTRC to block Awami League's online presence, including social media accounts, following a legal ban on the party's activities.
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| Bangladesh government moves to block the online platforms of the Awami League and its affiliates, including Facebook and YouTube, amid a political crackdown. Image: CH |
Dhaka, Bangladesh — May 14, 2025:
The Bangladesh government has initiated steps to block the online platforms of the Bangladesh Awami League (AL) and its affiliates. A formal letter was sent to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) on Tuesday, requesting the suspension of the party’s websites and social media accounts, including those on Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, Telegram, and X (formerly known as Twitter).
The request was made by the National Cyber Security Agency and confirmed by Fayez Ahmed Tayyab, Special Assistant to the Chief Advisor on Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology, in a statement to Prothom Alo.
This action comes after the interim government of Bangladesh issued a notification on Monday, banning all activities of the Awami League and its associated organizations. The government invoked the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Ordinance to halt all activities, including publications, media campaigns, online presence, and gatherings, until the completion of trials for AL leaders and activists at the International Crimes Tribunal.
The Election Commission (EC) also suspended the Awami League's registration as a political party on the same day, further intensifying the legal crackdown.
According to sources from the National Cyber Security Agency and BTRC, the next step will be to send formal requests to the major social media platforms, seeking the removal or blocking of the Awami League’s digital presence. The government is leveraging its legal powers to restrict access to these accounts on various platforms.
Faiz Ahmed Tayyab clarified that while the government cannot directly block all online content, it holds the authority to request website blocks. He emphasized that global tech giants like Meta and Google are frequently approached by governments to remove content or take action against violating accounts, with each platform reviewing such requests against their policies.
According to the Meta transparency report, during the first half of 2024, the BTRC requested the restriction of 2,940 items in Bangladesh. Similarly, Google reported 490 content removal requests from Bangladesh in 2024, involving 5,827 items. Notably, Google took no action in 68.2% of cases in the first half of the year and 45.8% in the second half.
This move underscores the government's increasing control over digital spaces, as it navigates the complex political landscape surrounding the Awami League and its affiliates.