We are glad that State Minister for ICT Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak has assured us that Facebook will be reopened soon. We thank the government for making this long-overdue announcement.
The ban, which was implemented around the time of the executions of notorious war criminals Salauddin Quader Chowdhury and Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid, may have been understandable at the time, as the country was on high alert.
However, more than two weeks later, the ban still stands, and the government has been unable to give us an exact date for lifting it.
A continued block on Facebook and other social media services such as WhatsApp and Viber make it look like the government is trying to clamp down on free expression and dissent. This is no way for a tolerant and secular country to behave, even in the face of a threat.
We have seen peaceful nations keep online communication channels open and accessible, even in times of turmoil. For example, France did not block Facebook even after the recent brutal attacks in Paris. Instead, the social media site became a platform for solidarity and healing.
A sustained ban on Facebook plays into the agenda of the extremists instead of fighting them. Furthermore, massive losses have been reported in the e-business sector, hurting the economy.
We therefore urge the government to be true to its word and lift its ban on Facebook without any further delay.
