The telecom regulator has launched a crack down on gambling websites and blocked 176 related sites today.

Following a request from the high ups of the government, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) asked all the internet gateway and Telecom department to run internet safety solution programme to block the sites, said a spokesperson of BTRC.

The telecom watchdog has forwarded the order this afternoon and related stakeholders are in a process to bock the sites, which will not be seen in Bangladesh again.   

“It might take few more hours to block all the sites completely as blocking any site is so technical,” said Md Emdadul Hoque, general secretary of Internet Service Provider Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB).

A top official of the BTRC said they have often found complaints from different sides about online gambling and that needs to block for the sake of safe internet.

Earlier the telecom watchdog also blocked 1,523 pornographic websites in the country in last two weeks through a joint move of internet safety solution programme and IIG level.

About these developments, Telecom Minister Mustafa Jabbar said all the sites were very harmful and more harmful websites will be blocked through this process and the move will continue from the government side.