The government shut down the internet during the mass uprising, the service provider understood

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Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB) president at that time realized that internet service was stopped by the decision of the government during July uprising. Imdadul Haque Molla.

In the interrogation of the lawyer of the defendant. Imdadul Haque Molla said, due to the fire, it spread around. Because of this, the local people cut some cables.

Imdadul Haque Molla testified as the third witness in a case against Sajib Wazed Joy, son of deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and former Minister of State for Information and Communication Technology, Junaid Ahmed Palak, at the International Criminal Tribunal-1. He is the Director of Optimax Communication Limited.

Sajib Wazed, the accused in this case, is absconding. And Palak was arrested in jail. He was produced today.

Imdadul Haque Molla said in the deposition that on July 18, 2024, a fire broke out in the Mohakhali disaster management building. Internet service was disrupted in some areas from 4 pm that day. On that day, the internet service was completely shut down in the whole country from around 9 pm. When I contacted IIG (International Internet Gateway) about the stoppage of internet services, they said that bandwidth supply from ITC (International Territorial Cable) is stopped. After that they understand that the internet service is closed by the government’s decision.

The witness was examined by the lawyer of the accused Aminul Gani. In the cross-examination, Imdadul Haque Molla said that when Palak visited the relief building on July 23, 2024, he (Imdadul) saw the burning. He also saw that the overhead cable was burnt. Also saw that the disaster management server was burnt. He mentioned that the locals had cut some cables due to the fire spreading around.