Staff Reporter :
The government is facing criticism from both local businesses and international organisations over delays in the full restoration of internet services, including mobile data networks, following a recent nationwide blackout.
The blackout, which lasted for five days, was triggered by violent clashes between law enforcement and students advocating for quota reforms in government jobs. While broadband services were restored on Tuesday, mobile data networks remain disrupted.
State Minister for Post, Telecommunication, and Information Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak announced on Saturday that a meeting would be held with the Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh (AMTOB) to address the restoration of mobile internet services. The meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Sunday, with Palak suggesting that if discussions go well, the 4G network could be reinstated by Sunday or Monday.
Palak clarified that the government did not directly cause the internet shutdown. Instead, he attributed the disruption to the burning of three data centres and cables. However, this explanation has been challenged by other stakeholders.
The Bangladesh Mobile Phone Consumers’ Association on Saturday contested the government’s rationale, particularly the claim that the shutdown was due to a fire at Khawaja Tower in Dhaka. The association’s investigation revealed no significant damage to the tower, contradicting government statements. They emphasised that a data centre is merely a server and should not be as vulnerable as claimed.
In light of these discrepancies, the association has called for the formation of a commission to thoroughly investigate both the impact on the internet sector and the incidents of violence that led to the blackout.
“Though the mobile internet service was open till July 16-17, the broadband internet service, including the mobile network, was totally shut down in the evening on July 18. The telecommunications minister said that the services were closed to prevent rumours. Later, the minister said that fibre cables and data centres came under terror attacks, leading to the blackout of internet service.”.
The association further said that it was unprecedented in the world to keep the mobile network shut down for seven days at a stretch. Even internet service was not closed for such a long time in war-ravaged Gaza and Ukraine, they mentioned.
Meanwhile, different enterprises, business associations, and others are stating that they are experiencing huge economic losses due to the closure of full internet service.
Though the broadband services have been restored, the users said that they are not getting uninterrupted services and that the data speed is very slow.
