Even in war-torn Gaza and Ukraine, internet services were not shut down for that long: BMPCA

Bangladesh Mobile Phone Consumers Association-BMPCA, has demanded the formation of an expert committee to investigate the allegations of damage and vandalism in the internet service sector. The organization also feels that the image of the country has been damaged in the world due to internet blackout for 5 consecutive days. They demand the formation of an investigation commission consisting of experts and stakeholders of the country's technology and telecommunication sector and representatives of the media and consumers, with the help of the International Telecommunication Union, if necessary, to find out the rationale and reasons for shutting down the internet along with the disclosure of the correct information about the destruction of state assets. They said that not only consumers were affected due to internet shutdown, software, outsourcing, mobile banking, telecom operators, ISPs, electric electronics, print media, online, IIG, NTTN, Towerco, handset manufacturing companies, i.e., all companies associated with digital services and Individuals are particularly affected.

It has been said that the United Nations Secretary General, the International Human Rights Organization, the United States State Department and 180 million people of the country have strong demands for opening the Internet.

Mohiuddin Ahmed, President of the organization after visiting the data center located in Khawaja Tower of Mohakhali on Saturday, said that the responsible persons of telecommunication and ICT, BTRC, and related sectors have put the responsibility of the failure of Internet security, prevention of rumors on the data center of Khawaja Tower of Mohakhali. But we came to know in the reputed media of the country that Khawaja Tower data center was not at all damaged. Rather, ISPAB, BTRC and State Minister of ICT have repeatedly blamed that internet shutdown occurred due to data center damage. Today we have a representative team personally visiting the buildings of NRB, Dhaka Cool, and talking to many of the buildings and found that there is no corrosion damage. One thing needs to be clarified, the data center is just a server archive i.e., a kind of locker.

The vice president of the organization Lion Shyamal Hazra, Secretary General Advocate Abu Bakar Siddique, Executive Member Advocate Moniruzzaman Shaswat Monir, Central Member Engineer Abu Saleh, Information and Office Secretary Sheikh Farid, Md Sagar were present during the visit.

According to the press release sent by the BMPCA to the media after the inspection, it is mentioned that, although the mobile internet was stopped on a limited basis on the last 16-17th, the mobile internet along with the broadband internet service was stopped all over the country from the evening of the 18th. Immediately we learned in electronics media quoting the president of the ISPAB that the internet service was down due to terrorist attack on the data center located in Khawaja Tower in Mohakhali. Already on July 24, social media was closed and narrow brand internet services were being provided. On the other hand, the Minister of State for Telecommunication and Technology said that Internet services have been stopped to prevent rumours. Later, the state minister also said that internet services are down due to fiber cutting at various places and terrorist attacks on data centers. As far as we know, there is no precedent in the world for the internet to be shut down for seven consecutive days. Even in war-torn Gaza and Ukraine, internet services were not shut down for that long. As a result of internet shutdown, customers have to remain without utility bill payment, mobile recharge, mobile banking services, air ticket collection, even gas and electricity. Having money deposited in the bank, many were starving as they could not withdraw money. The shutdown of internet services has led to loss of life and horrific violence and destruction and looting of state property as rumors spread widely as news was not covered by the mainstream media. Facebook authority Meta, YouTube, TikTok, even our regulatory body BTRC and Ministry of ICT and Telecommunications have failed completely for not being able to control rumors and inflammatory posts. So, we think social media should be fined as well as held accountable by someone in charge of our state institutions.