Protesting a Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission directive on Friday to block 35 news websites, leaders of two Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) and Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) factions yesterday threatened non-stop agitation if it was not withdrawn immediately.

Addressing a rally in their Jatiya Press Club office in the capital, they termed the block illegal as notices were not served beforehand, saying it was an "undemocratic" and "dictatorial" approach of the government to curb press freedom.

They also alleged that clampdowns on television channels and newspapers and torture and arrest of journalists since the 2008 national elections targeted silencing views going against government interests.

Following a government directive, all International Internet Gateway operators were directed to block the websites including sheershanewsbd.com, amardeshonline.com, and dinkalonline.net.

Shawkat Mahmud, one BFUJ faction president and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's adviser, alleged that fear of harassment by law enforcers has stifled opinion and control over the media was in its "worst" form.