High speed internet service on cell phones has been suspended at the venue of BNP's grand rally in the capital's Naya Paltan area.
The 4G internet service has been brought down to 2G, so the internet cannot be used.
Sources at the concerned office have confirmed this. But officials decline to make any comment.
However, network internet is available on the cell phones at the south gate area of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, where Awami League will hold peace and development rally.
It was not possible to make any incoming and outgoing calls over the mobile phone in Naya Paltan, but the mobile network was accessible in the adjacent areas of the rally venue.
Telecommunication experts said mobile networks can be disrupted in a certain area using jammers and law enforcement agencies have those.
Babar Ali, who came to the rally from Gaibandha, said he went to the Nightingale intersection around 11:00am as he could not access the mobile network at Naya Paltan, but there was no mobile network there either. So he went in front of Rajmoni Cinema and then the Revenue Bhaban in Segunbagicha, where he accessed the network and talked to his relative over the mobile phone.
Two more people from the BNP rally told Prothom Alo that they could not access the mobile network around 11:00am.
BNP will hold a grand rally in the capital’s Naya Paltan area around 2:00pm with the one-point demand of the government’s ouster.
At the same time, Awami League is scheduled to hold a peace and development rally at the south gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque.
Leaders of the Awami League were seen gathering at the rally venue. Prothom Alo Correspondent said he can access fast internet and mobile networks easily from the rally spot.
Previously, internet service was reportedly disrupted during the rallies of the BNP at various times.
Telecom regulator Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) made no official statement on the disruption of internet service as yet. Mobile operators also declined comment.
BNP standing committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury told Prothom Alo the government has unleashed a reign of terror by launching arrests, searches and raids across the country. They have kept the Internet blocked and are using state agencies to serve their interests.