DHAKA
Bangladesh's government has restricted access to certain social messaging services for "security reasons", according to a domestic mobile operator.
The popular messaging application Viber has been restricted on Sunday according to a statement released by Grameenphone.
"Grameenphone and the other mobile operators in Bangladesh received written as well as verbal request from the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission to temporarily restrict access to the messaging services Viber and Tango, citing security reasons," the statement said.
Complaints on social media also indicated that many in Bangladesh have experienced restricted internet access, across several service providers, though it cannot currently be confirmed whether there is any relation to the restrictions on Viber.
According to the statement by Grameenphone the restriction should end on Sunday evening.
The restriction has come amid heightened political tensions in Bangladesh that have seen at least 25 people die in the past two weeks.
A nationwide transport blockade called by the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party has been enforced by supporters of the party by setting alight buses defying the ban.
The instability began amid plans for a mass protest movement on Jan. 5, which marked a year since Bangladesh's controversial 2014 general elections.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party boycotted the election, over its purported fears of vote-rigging, and has since repeatedly called for a fresh election to be held.
