Mobile internet services were restored in Bangladesh on Sunday after a ten-day ban. Sheikh Hasina government had banned the internet to prevent misinformation through social media amid violent protests related to the quota system. IT Minister Junaid Ahmed has also announced to give 5 GB free internet to all the users after the ban is lifted.
Bangladesh IT Minister Junaid Ahmed Palak said that all mobile users will get 5GB of free internet for three days as a gesture for the restored connectivity. The internet ban has been lifted at around 3:00 pm local time. Various telecom operators including Robi, Grameenphone and Banglalink have also given this information.
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Internet banned, fire in data center
Following a High Court order in Bangladesh, 30 percent seats in civil services were reserved for the children of freedom fighters. After this, students across the country including Dhaka protested, which later turned violent. Because of this, the Internet was banned on July 18, so that the spread of misinformation through social media could be stopped.
Amid violent protests, the Disaster Management Building was set on fire, where it is said that the data center was also present. Due to this arson, the local Internet Service Provider Association said that due to this there was loss of bandwidth and a decline of 30-40 percent was seen in the bandwidth supply. Within an hour, broadband internet connections across the country came to a standstill.
- July 18: Due to increasing protests against the quota system in government jobs, the government imposed a mobile internet shutdown.
- 18–23 July: There was a complete blackout of mobile and broadband internet services in Bangladesh. After this, broadband was restored in several phases, but internet services remained banned till July 23.
- July 23: Mobile internet services were fully restored at around 3 pm but till Sunday people were not able to use the internet, which is now said to have been restored. On the same day, the government had announced to provide 5 GB free internet to the users.
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More than 100 people died in violent protests
Sheikh Hasina government orders shoot-at-site to protect public properties amid protests against quota system in Bangladesh. For example, Sheikh Hasina government issued orders to shoot at sight from the administration amid curfew. More than 100 people lost their lives amid the protests. However, the government does not have any official data regarding deaths.