The closure of the social networking sites, including Facebook, Viber, and WhatsApp, has kept an effective role in reducing sabotages, says State Minister for Posts and Telecommunications Tarana Halim.

She also says that the decision of keeping social networking sites closed will be in effect until the security of even a single person is not ensured.

Tarana Halim came up with the remarks while talking with journalists at Secretariat in Dhaka on Monday.

The state minister informed that the government is trying to sign a deal with the Facebook authority in order to control crimes done using Facebook.

Responding to a question on the fate of the 11,000 small businesses involved in E-commerce now facing a loss due to the closure of social networking sites, Tarana Halim said, ‘Value of a life is more important.’

She invited all to bear with the temporary loss considering the greater interest of the country.

‘Some countries switch off the internet service considering the security of the public and also of the country. We have not been that much strict,’ said Tarana.

‘Using Facebook, sabotages took place in the country centring the verdicts of war criminals,’ added Tarana.

The state minister reiterated that social networking sites will remain closed till further notice.