Bangladesh blocks Viber, Tango

THRISSUR,16/09/2012.A man talking his mobile phone against the backdrop of a mobile tower in Thrissur, Kerala. The environment ministry has issued an advisory asking the department of telecommunications not to permit new mobile towers within one- kilometre radius of existing ones to prevent the impact of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) on birds and bees. It also suggested location-wise GIS mapping of all cell phone towers to help in monitoring the population of birds and bees in and around the mobile tower area and wildlife protection area.Photo:K_K_Mustafah.

Bangladesh on Sunday blocked internet calling and messaging services Viber and Tango, amid security concerns, a media report said.

The International Gateways, which channelises internet traffic in the country, said the two applications were shut down in the early hours on Sunday on the orders of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC).

“The services have been blocked upon requests of intelligence agencies,” a BTRC official told bdnews24.com .

He said the telecom regulator had initially planned to keep the services off till Sunday midnight, but that might be extended if necessary.

Law-enforcement agencies had earlier said criminals were using such services to communicate with each other.

They said phone calls could be tracked, but it was not possible to keep a tab on communications made through such apps.

Published - January 19, 2015 09:56 am IST