This story is from the BBC website. Apparently, Bangladesh has blocked YouTube, since audio files of a meeting between Sheikh Hasina and the head of the Army were posted there. Their meeting was regarding the recent "revolt" by the BDR.
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Bangladesh imposes YouTube block
The video-sharing web site YouTube has been blocked by Bangladesh after a recording of a meeting between the PM and army officers was posted.
The meeting took place two days after a mutiny by border guards in Dhaka that left more than 70 people dead.
The recordings cover about 40 minutes of a three-hour meeting and reveal how angry many in the military were at the government's handling of the crisis.
YouTube had been blocked in the "national interest", officials said.
Hundreds of guardsmen have been arrested in connection with the mutiny but hundreds more are still being sought.
Jeered
The chairman of the Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, Zia Ahmed, said the decision to block access to YouTube, and another website, esnips, was taken because the audio recordings they hosted threatened to worsen the current situation.
"The government can take any decision to stop any activity that threatens national unity and integrity," he said.
The government has not said when the sites will be unblocked.
The meeting in question took place after the mutiny in the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) headquarters two weeks ago had collapsed. Some 54 army officers were among those killed.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina agreed to talk to officers to persuade them that her strategy to end the mutiny had worked and had in fact minimised casualties.
"We want answers," some of the officers, who numbered more than 2,000, shouted at Sheikh Hasina.
Her attempts to speak are often jeered and drowned out.
The BBC's Mark Dummett in Dhaka says there had been anger in the army over the government's decision to negotiate with the mutineers, rather than immediately sending in troops to crush their revolt.
Many in the army believe the move gave the border guards more time to kill the officers and rape their wives.
One officer at the meeting tells the prime minister: "I do not understand who gave you that idea that it has to be solved politically... rebellion has to be crushed with force.
"But you have not done that... politics is not applicable everywhere... if one tank would have gone there or a commando platoon landed there, the [BDR] would have fled like ants... but none went... all my officers were killed helplesslyÂ… and you failed to do anything."
Our correspondent says that outside the army, many in Bangladesh believe she handled the crisis well, though her government has undoubtedly been shaken and relations with the army remain low.
Link to the original story:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7932659.stm
Link to the audio files on YouTube (these are the original recordings, so are in Bangla, no English translations yet available):
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wpmr4gKFHww
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWI3Ybe2hfs&feature=related
French Connection
Disturbing all around. I don't even know what to say. How do governments get away with this stuff?
1Unfortunately, it seems that many governments get away with so many things by quoting the "national interest" or "national security" line....
2Very disturbing!!!!!
3If closing down You Tube diffuses a volatile situation, then the government did the right thing. All I knew about the revolt up til now is that the BDE mutinied over pay. It appears there was a lot more to it then reported. I admit to not knowing enough to opine further
4The fact that 54 of the reported 70 casualties were officers, leads me to believe that there were indeed "executions". You do not kill officers solely over a pay dispute.
5Since hubby is from there, we have been following it as closely as we can....it seems to be a confusing mish-mash of everyone telling a different story. From what I can tell from the latest reports is that elements within the BDR used dissatisfaction over pay as an impetus for the "rebellion". I listened to the recordings and can understand some (granted not all) of what is being said, and it is basically the commanders of the Army venting a lot of anger that the Sheikh Hasina government for not acting faster to quell the "rebellion" - I guess the government blocked YouTube because the portions posted vent criticism of the current government's handling of the "rebellion" and criticizes the ruling political party.
At least that is what I have been able to piece together....
I will look at some Bangladeshi news sites and see if there is anything on them within the last 24 hours or so that clarifies what is currently going on or what they have found out about the BDR "rebellion" in the investigations...if I find anything new, I'll post.
6wow! this is disturbing i know some people are pissed!
7This is just awful news--just seems like everywhere we turn lately it's something else...
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
8Good Day
Paul Harvey
well - what shall i say - having lived in a country which was under embargo for 5 years... Governments ARE NOT PEOPLE AS WE ARE... that is all i can say... That is why i am against wars - which are only made because of oil or diamonds or else... Yet people are no priority...
i
truly hope the WORLD WILL CHANGE!!!
9It is really sad for all Bangladeshi. All from bangladesh can still browse Youtube. I have found a topic here about "How to browse Youtube from Bangladesh" Here it is:
http://photoblooggy.blogspot.com/
10Thanks, razon - I will pass that on to our friends and family in Bangladesh!
11YES.Govt has blocked those sites.Bcoz of after the mutiny in BDR Prime Minister went Army HQ.
At there Army officers were excited.They had arguments with Prime Minister & lot of confidential issues.Someone recorded this audio & uploaded to Youtube.
So, the Govt restricted Youtube,Esnips & these types of video sites to flourish these files.They deployed ACL bt they don't know it is not the proper system to restrict the sites.Those sites were accessible always via several proxy sites.So, whats are the benifits to restrict those sites?They should to communicate with the Admins of those sites & req them to delete those files.
Anyway, the sites are open now.But they deprived ppl from info.
Best Regards,
Rigan.
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