Dhaka: State Minister for Posts and Telecommunications Tarana Halim on Tuesday said the government has taken an initiative to sign a deal with Facebook to prevent cyber crimes, especially the harassment of women on the social networking site.

She came up with the disclosure while talking to reporters during a visit to Bangladesh Telecommunication and Regulatory Commission (BTRC) in capital.

The junior minister said the government has a plan to send a letter to the Facebook authorities in this regard, and meet them and ask them to visit Bangladesh, if needed.

She, however, said the Facebook authorities had offered the Bangladesh government the scope for signing an agreement during the tenure of BNP alliance government.

Tarana also said the government will launch the ‘.bangla domain’ on 21 February next instead of December this year due to the ongoing SIM registration process.

She said the drive against illegal VoIP business and fake mobile phones will continue.

The state minister said they were attaching highest importance to preventing cyber crimes as girls and women are choosing the path of suicide following embarrassing posts on their social networking site.

Tarana also announced to hold a weekly meeting with the chiefs of all organisations under the Posts and Telecommunications Ministry to ensure coordination among the staff.

Meanwhile, BTRC chairman M Shahjahan Mahmood urged the government to provide necessary help so that BTRC can function independently.