BTRC and NTMC shut down internet, Palak phoned too

Two government agencies Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) and National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC) instructed internet to be shut down during the quota reform movement and one-point demand for resignation of the government.

At that time, post, telecommunication and information technology affairs state minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak made calls over phone to shut the internet.

The government agencies didn't admit shutting the internet. Rather, Zunaid Ahmed Palak delivered different statements at different times. He brought forth the issue of arson attacks on the internet infrastructure.

Broadband internet was halted from 17 July night and mobile internet from 18 July. All the internet was shut for five days at a stretch. Mobile internet was shut for 10 days. Social media Facebook and internet based communication media WhatsApp were shut for 13 days.

Sources revealed proof of when, how and which entity ordered internet shutdown. It was learned that the engineering and operations department of BTRC around 12:30am on 15 July ordered through WhatsApp to shut mobile internet at Shahbagh and Dhaka University’s Raju Memorial Sculpture areas. Another directive ordered the same for DU, Jahangirnagar University, Chittagong University, Rajshahi University and Shahjalal University of Science and Technology in Sylhet areas.

The same department of BTRC on the next day, 16 July, around noon ordered mobile internet to be shut in 59 universities across the country. The order also mentioned that the post, telecommunication and ICT ministry has an approval over the decision. BRTC is a commission under this ministry.

BTRC chairman Mohiuddin Ahmed could not be contacted for comment on internet shutdown. However, a BTRC commissioner on condition of anonymity told Prothom Alo that the decision to shut the internet was not taken upon discussion with the commissioners.

Six people including Begum Rokeya University student Abu Sayeed were killed in different districts of the country on 16 July. Video footage of Abu Sayeed’s killing in police shooting from a close range enraged people.

National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC), an intelligence agency under the home ministry, started issuing directives to shut the internet from 17 July. Around 11:30 pm that day, NTMC asked the mobile operator companies to block Facebook and YouTube beyond the reach of its content “blocking” and “filtering” devices from 12:00 am. Within two hours, NTMC issued an order to shut mobile internet completely. The mobile internet was resumed later at the behest of the NTMC.

NTMC through e-mails to mobile operators on 28 July said that internet would be restored but the operators will first shut Facebook, Messenger, WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber, Imo, YouTube, BiP, Signal, Skype and Botim.

The prime minister resigned on 5 August and left the country. Before that, NTMC on several occasions issued directives to shut the internet.

Major General Ziaul Ahsan was director general of NTMC. He was sacked from the army on 6 August. Major General ASM Redwanur Rahman replaced Ziaul. 

Internet bandwidth is sourced to Bangladesh through Submarine Cable Company and International Terrestrial Cable (ITC) companies. International Internet Gateway (IIG) companies buy bandwidth from these sources. ISP organisations serve the bandwidth to consumer level upon buying from IIGs.

Submarine cable company and ITC sources said BTRC on 18 July asked to shut bandwidth. As the ITC companies sought the order in writing, the order was sent through WhatsApp messages. BTRC continues to monitor till the entire country goes offline by 9:00pm. The then state minister Zunaid Ahmed himself called the submarine company and asked them to shut down the internet. Bandwidth supply from Submarine Cable Company and ITC was also stopped on 5 August.

Zunaid Ahmed was detained at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on 6 August while he tried to leave the country. Since then, his whereabouts could not be known.

Bangladesh Submarine Cables PLC’s (BSCPLC) managing director Mirza Kamal Ahammad told Prothom Alo that the bandwidth was disconnected due to order from the authorities.

BTRC ordered IIGs to shut the internet around 9:00pm on 18 July and around 11:00am on 5 August. However, IIGs said as they approached to shut the internet, they had found that bandwidth supply was shut before.

IIG platforms’ umbrella organisation IIGAB’s secretary general Ahmed Zunaed told Prothom Alo shutting the internet in such a way cannot even be thought of. Apart from financial losses, the image of the country was also affected.

He requested the interim government to depoliticize the BTRC and form an independent commission.

Meanwhile, several officials of private companies involved with providing internet service alleged anyone who tried to defy the internet shutdown order were intimidated to face various actions including cancellation of license.

There are over 120 million mobile internet subscribers and over 10 million broadband internet subscribers in the country. Business, commerce, financial transactions, public and private office operations, information flow, entertainment everything now require the internet.

The Internet was shut on many occasions during the reign of Awami League. Internet services were shut often centering political programmes of the opposition, although the then government would never acknowledge this practice.

At least 580 people were killed, centering anti-discrimination movement and subsequent fall of Awami League. Misinformation and disinformation were rampant in this period.

As per article 97 of the Telecommunication Act, the government can shut the internet on the grounds of national security and public order. However, the lawyers think that Awami League, in the garb of public order, used the trick of shutting the internet to quell its political opposition and protests and left mass people suffering.

Md Saimum Reza Talukder, Brac University’s senior lecturer of law department, told Prothom Alo shutting internet through executive orders is tantamount to infringe on people’s fundamental rights. The authorities should not have such power. This practice is in conflict with the principles of human rights. An undemocratic government kept the law.