Bangladesh lifts ban on Facebook

DHAKA - Authorities in Bangladesh have lifted a ban on popular social networking website Facebook, more than a week after the government temporarily restricted access to the site, officials said.

Mango Telecom Services, a private internet service provider, Saturday reopened the site for Bangladeshi users as directed by telecom regulators, Mir Masud Kabir, the managing director of the company, told local media.

The restriction was imposed May 29 after what officials said was a section of the site out to hurt religious sentiments in the Muslim-majority country by uploading a number of controversial images on the site that go against the Muslim belief.

Some members of the social networking site had organized an “Everyone Draw Mohammed Day” competition, prompting protests among Muslims who believe images of the prophet are blasphemous.

The organisers said the event was meant to promote freedom of expression, but Muslims across the world expressed anger over it.

After a fruitful negotiation with the Facebook authorities for removal of those controversial images, the government decided to reopen the site for the users, officials at the regulatory body said. Pakistan had also briefly banned the social networking site over the issue.