DHAKA: The government will reopen Facebook soon in Bangladesh as its meeting with the popular social media representatives was successful on Sunday.

Home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal came up with the development while talking to journalists immediately after the meeting in city this afternoon.

Two officials of Facebook’s Asia Pacific region Deepali Liberhan (South Asia policy manager) and Vikram Langye (political and legal adviser) attended the meeting with state minister for posts and telecommunications Tarana Halim, home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, information and communication technology (ICT) state minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak at the home ministry.

Besides,   home ministry senior secretary Dr M Mozammel Haque Khan, inspector general of police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Haque and representatives from intelligence agencies were also present at the meeting.

After the meeting with Facebook officials, the home boss said that Facebook was main agenda of the meeting. ‘We shut down the Facebook temporarily for the sake of security of Bangladesh’.

The minister said, ‘We have informed the Facebook officials about our requirements for country’s security. After listening to the requirements Facebook representatives assured us of providing their possible cooperation’.

‘Our decision taken after discussions will be disclosed to media as soon as possible,’ he added.

When asked about exact time of Facebook reopening, the minister said, ‘Now, I would like to say that the meeting has been successful. We will take the decision soon’.

Regarding security of Facebook use in alternate way, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said, ‘Our young generation is very talented. The prime minister expects many more from them. It’s a different issue that some youths use Facebook in alternative way’.

In reply to another query ‘what was the government’s requirement to Facebook’, the minister said that many Facebook users have been propagating against the country and government. It’s the matter of national security. It was the issue of the discussions.

Earlier, posts and telecommunications department sent a letter to the Facebook authorities to sign deals to stop violence against women through the popular social media.

However, Facebook authorities responded to the letter immediately by expressing their eagerness over the issue.

BDST: 1300/1544 HRS, DEC 06, 2015
RS/RR/SMS

** ovt set to sit with facebook officials