TDS Desk:

The alleged fire incident at a data centre in Mohakhali was not responsible for the internet blackout as the authorities had kept compatriots offline in an oral decision by former state minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak.

“At that time, there was no connection between the internet shutdown and the fire in the data centre. The telecom regulator shut down the internet in the first phase with verbal instructions from the former minister of state,” according to an investigation report filed by the Telecommunications Ministry on Tuesday.

A seven-member committee, led by adviser for Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology Nahid Islam, investigated the issue.

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) shut down broadband internet in the first phase on 19 July under the direction of former state minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak to quell student protests.

BTRC chairman Mohiuddin Ahmed implemented the directive immediately, although the authorities have denied the issue since then.

Mobile internet was shut down as per the orders of the director general of the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC).

This information was provided in a press release sent to the media by the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology on 13 August.

The report also stated that the investigative committee, led by Nahid Islam, initially received the information.