Bangladesh’s National Tier-IV Data Center, located in Kaliakair, Gazipur, faced an unprecedented power outage on June 23, six years after its establishment in April 2018. Despite costing approximately BDT 1,600 crore to construct, the facility was left powerless for about 40 minutes due to a rural electrification issue, revealing critical gaps in its backup systems.
The outage disrupted operations of the e-Nothi system, a crucial platform for government offices, impacting over 13,000 offices nationwide. While initial assurances confirmed no data loss, the event exposed vulnerabilities in the backup infrastructure, which failed to activate during the power failure. A subsequent investigation revealed that the secondary power backup generators were set to manual mode to conserve fuel, and over 200 expired batteries rendered the system ineffective.
Response and Immediate Measures
Upon identifying the issue, ICT Secretary Shish Haider Chowdhury took prompt action, including replacing the expired batteries and initiating the process to connect the data center to an express grid line for uninterrupted power supply. This measure, supported by discussions with the Power Division and local district administration, is expected to mitigate future risks. “Given the distance from Dhaka, implementing the express grid line will take some time,” the ICT Secretary explained.
A three-member investigation committee, including representatives from BUET and BCC, was formed to analyze the incident. The committee’s report highlighted operational lapses but confirmed no data loss occurred. The ICT Secretary also directed the center’s management to enhance system resilience and accountability.
Broader Implications
The outage had ripple effects on several governmental services. Md. Mamunur Rashid Bhuiyan, Project Director of Access to Information (a2i), expressed gratitude for the swift actions taken but emphasized the need for more sustainable solutions. In a letter following the incident, he underscored the importance of uninterrupted power supply and robust data protection measures, calling for greater accountability and preparedness from the data center management.
Despite the challenges, the incident has spurred a comprehensive review of the data center’s infrastructure, aiming to uphold its commitment to providing secure and uninterrupted data services. The ICT Division’s proactive approach, including replacing obsolete equipment and prioritizing grid connectivity, has been widely appreciated as a step toward ensuring reliability in national data storage and management.
S.M. Imdadul Haque, Executive Editor, DigiBangla.Tech
