Staff Reporter :
The Interim government has begun taking steps to block the websites and social media platforms of the Bangladesh Awami League and all its affiliated, associate, and fraternal organisations, intensifying a sweeping crackdown on the party that once dominated national politics.
On Tuesday, the National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA) formally asked the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to initiate measures for implementing the block, according to Faiz Ahmed Taiyab, special assistant to the chief adviser on posts, telecommunication, and information technology.
The move came a day after the Ministry of Home Affairs, through its Public Security Division, issued a gazette notification banning all activities of the Awami League and its affiliated organisations until the completion of ongoing trials of party leaders and activists at the International Crimes Tribunal.
The notification invoked the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Ordinance, placing a sweeping embargo on publications, rallies, meetings, and online content related to the banned entities. On the same day, the Election Commission announced the suspension of the Awami League’s registration as a political party, effectively disqualifying it from participating in any electoral process.
Government sources said letters would soon be sent to international technology companies such as Meta and Google, requesting the removal or restriction of accounts, pages, and content linked to the banned organisations. The letters are expected to cite the government’s legal mandate and security concerns as the basis for the request.
“After the notification, we are moving forward to block their online presence via BTRC,” said Taiyab in a media briefing on Sunday. “While the government can directly block domestic websites, action on international social media platforms depends on the companies’ policies.”
He acknowledged that Bangladesh does not have unilateral control over platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and X (formerly Twitter). “Like other governments, we must submit formal requests. These platforms evaluate our requests against their community standards and decide whether to act.”
According to Meta’s most recent transparency report, the company restricted access to 2,940 items in Bangladesh between January and June 2024, following takedown requests issued during the final months of the Awami League government.
