An ongoing investigation has exposed the coordinated efforts behind the recent nationwide internet shutdown in Bangladesh, implicating key government bodies and officials.
The investigation, led by a newly formed committee under the interim government’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Adviser, Nahid Islam, revealed that the internet shutdown was orchestrated by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) and the National Telecommunication Monitoring Center (NTMC), with direct orders from the former State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology, Junaid Ahmed Palak.
The shutdown, which began on July 18, disrupted all forms of Internet access, including mobile and broadband services, and severely impacted daily life across the country.
The shutdown was initially justified by Palak as a response to a fire at a data center.
However, the investigation has since debunked this claim, revealing that the shutdown was a deliberate act to suppress the student-led quota reform movement that had gained momentum across the country.
Via Dhaka Tribune