Bangladesh Bans YouTube
March 9, 2009 2:15 p.m. EST
AHN Staff
Dhaka, Bangladesh (AHN) - The government of Bangladesh banned the website YouTube on Monday after a meeting between the prime minister and army officers was posted on the popular video sharing portal.
The video footage was taken two days after a mutiny by border guards which caused the death of over 70 people. The recording ran for 40 minutes out of a 3-hour meeting. It showed the anger of Bangladeshis military personnel over how the government handled the crisis.
Zia Ahmed, chairman of the Bangladesh Telecommunidations Regulatory Commission, said the government decided to block YouTube and another website esnips, because the footage they showed may worsen the situation in the country. "The government can take any decision to stop any activity that threatens national unity and integrity," Ahmed was quoted by BBC.
The meeting between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina took place after the mutiny at the Bangladesh Rifles office two weeks ago where 54 army officers died. The footage showed over 2,000 solders shouting at the prime minister, "We want answers".
She attempted to reply, but her voice was drowned by the jeers of the soldiers. There is no definite date when will YouTube be unblocked.
Meanwhile, a team from the FBI will help the Bangladeshi police probe the mutiny. Of the 1,000 border guards involved in the uprising, 36 suspects have been under arrest.
Bangladesh has a history of successful coup attempts, with 21 so far successful. All the coup tries were made by the military.
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