Last month, Bangladesh experienced internet blackouts during student protests that ultimately led to the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Initially, it was believed that the blackouts were the result of data centre fires in the Dhaka neighbourhood of Mohakhali. However, an independent probe has revealed that the government ordered the shutdown of internet services, contradicting the claims made by then-ICT minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak.
The blackout began on July 17 with the mobile internet going dark, followed by a complete internet blackout on July 18 as student protests against a government jobs quota scheme turned violent. Fixed broadband connectivity was fully restored on July 24, while mobile internet services came back online on July 28. The internet services were shut down again on August 4-5 as protests escalated, demanding Hasina’s resignation.
According to a press statement from the Ministry for Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology, an independent committee found that Palak verbally instructed the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) chairman to order operators to shut down their internet services. The National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC) under the Ministry of Home Affairs directed the shutdown and eventual restoration of internet services.
The committee’s preliminary findings confirmed that the blackout was indeed ordered by the government, contradicting Palak’s claims of planned sabotage by protesters who allegedly set fire to data centres. The committee found no connection between the internet blackout and the data centre fires, stating that Palak misled the nation by falsely associating the two.
Following Hasina’s resignation on August 5, Nahid Islam replaced Palak as ICT minister under the interim government. Grameen Telecom founder Muhammad Yunus was named chief adviser of the interim government on August 6. The committee investigating the blackout was formed under Nahid’s directive to determine what exactly happened and who was responsible, as the blackout not only disrupted daily life for citizens but also tarnished Bangladesh’s global image.
The blackout had significant economic implications, with reports stating that the telecoms and digital commerce sectors lost several million US dollars per day. The Foreign Investors Chamber of Commerce & Industries estimated losses for the overall economy at over US$10 billion as of July 28. The committee has submitted its preliminary report, and further investigations into the blackout are ongoing.
In conclusion, the internet blackouts in Bangladesh during the student protests were not the result of data centre fires as initially claimed but were ordered by the government. The findings of the independent probe have shed light on the events leading up to the blackout and the subsequent restoration of internet services. The impact of the blackout on the economy and the nation’s reputation underscores the importance of a thorough investigation to hold those responsible accountable.