Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today announced that popular online messaging and calling services WhatsApp and Viber will be blocked temporarily, if needed, in order to nab militants and prevent terrorist activities in the country.

Some people are carrying out criminal activities by misusing these apps, the PM said. "Therefore, I will suspend operation of these apps for some days time, when needed, in order to arrest the perpetrators."

The premier made this announcement in response to a query of Awami League lawmaker Hazi Selim at the Jatiya Sangsad. 

Hasina however did not specify when the government is going to block the apps.

She also called upon the lawmakers, countrymen and electronic media to help arrest those involved in terrorist and militant activities.

On January 18 of this year, mobile applications Viber, WhatsApp, Tango, Mypeople and Line were blocked in the country by the government for security reasons, and were later unblocked four days later  under instructions from Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission.