‘It is sad to stop internet service only during political gatherings’

BNP leaders and workers have complained that mobile internet connection is not available in the capital's Nayapaltan area even before the rally started. The Mobile Phone Consumers Association condemned the incident by making the same complaint.

A press release signed by the president of the organization, Mohiuddin Ahmed, said, "Closing Internet services is against the constitution, which is a very important humanitarian and citizen's fundamental right declared by the United Nations, on the basis of political gatherings." The constitution allows our citizens free speech and assembly. But Bangladesh is shutting down the internet emergency services to block the fair assembly and expression of independent opinion in some other countries of the world. Which is very sad and reprehensible. Earlier, internet service was stopped six times in Bangladesh. We have come to know that the internet service has been disrupted in the capital's Purana Paltan, Kakrail and even Motijheel areas on Wednesday due to the public meeting in Nayapaltan.

It also said, 'In today's internet service cut off area, there are many important hospitals, major commercial areas of the capital and important secretariats of the state. Just as millions of people are unable to use internet services for their urgent work, media workers are also unable to provide news coverage of meetings. We will say, the government will deal with political opponents politically. Violation of the fundamental rights of citizens is contrary to a modern democratic state. We believe that the government regulatory agencies and law enforcement agencies will be more careful in this regard in the coming days.'

It may be noted that, Bangladesh ranks fifth among 38 countries in the information provided by the US-based Access Now on the shutdown of internet services in the world since 2016.