Facebook, messenger up and running again since 7:25pm

The traffic on social media platform Facebook and its messaging app became active again at 7:25pm today, said Ahmed Junayed, secretary general of International Internet Gateway Association of Bangladesh (IIGAB).

Facebook and Messenger have been down in Bangladesh since Friday afternoon due to restrictions allegedly placed by authorities to control the spread of rumours that may increase violence after the death of five people in Friday's demonstrations by Hefajat-e-Islam protesting two-day visit of Indian Premier Narendra Modi.

Modi left Dhaka on Saturday evening.

Junayed said there was no instruction on them from Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission or the Department of Telecom to make Facebook or Messenger inactive.

However, Facebook said its services have been kept restricted in Bangladesh.

On March 27, Facebook said in a statement: "We're aware that our services have been restricted in Bangladesh. We're working to understand more and hope to have full access restored as soon as possible."

The Daily Star contacted Facebook's public relation agency Benchmark PR in Bangladesh to get a comment from the social media giant. Facebook is yet to give any reaction.