The government has decided to regulate the use of two popular apps—Telegram and Botim—to prevent political unrest across the country after announcing the election schedule. A preliminary decision in this regard was taken at a meeting of the Law and Order Core Committee of the Ministry of Home Affairs held on Sunday (September 28).

It is learned that the then Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina left for India after the coup in July this year. Since then, some of her supporters have been communicating and holding virtual meetings with leaders and activists in the country from India. Through these meetings, attempts are being made to create unrest in the country and influence the electoral process.

244 Awami League leaders and activists were arrested last Wednesday after a flash rally in the capital. More than 150 of them were regularly communicating and participating in meetings with Sheikh Hasina using Telegram and Botim. Law enforcement agencies seized their mobile phones, where this information was confirmed.

The discussion at the core committee meeting came up on whether it is possible to control the situation by controlling the use of the two apps at night. In addition, preparations will be made to close these two apps nationwide after the announcement of the schedule for the 13th National Parliament elections.

Telegram is a popular internet-based communication app, whose founder is Pavel Durov of Russian origin. On the other hand, Botim is popular for conversations, video calls and money transfers and its head office is in the United States.

Sources present at the core committee meeting said that leaders and activists are being activated through internet-based communication before the elections in the country. For this reason, the initial decision has been taken to limit the use of these two apps to prevent political unrest in the country before the elections.