ISLAMABAD – Bangladesh has tightened the screw against dissent media.
Bangladesh authorities have blocked access to a popular news portal in whatcritics on Tuesday condemned as the latest blow to freedom of expression inthe South Asian nation.
Poriborton.com, one of the country’s top five online news outlets, was shutwithout notice on Sunday, managing editor Abu Sufian told AFP, but he didnot give a reason.
Officials for government agencies that regulate the internet industrydenied any knowledge of the case or refused to comment.
But a Bangladesh media industry source said that a government securityagency ordered the closure after the website raised questions about thefinancing of a newspaper advert against Muslim militancy.Muslim groups hadcondemned the advert, saying it described some signs of Islamic faith asmarks of radicalisation.
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In recent months the authorities have shut 54 news portals and websites,including that of the main opposition party, citing security reasons.
They cut access to the website of Qatar-based TV station Al Jazeera inMarch after it published an article alleging the involvement of a seniordefence official in the disappearance of three men.
