Mobile internet services restored in violence-hit Bangladesh after 10 days

Dhaka, July 29 (Udaipur Kiran) — After a 10-day suspension due to nationwide violence and arson, mobile internet services were restored in Bangladesh on Sunday. The protests, which began with demands for reforms to the government job reservation system, quickly escalated into widespread violence. In response, the government imposed a ban on mobile internet services to curb the spread of fake news on social media.

According to reports, Minister of State for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Zunaid Ahmed Palak announced in a press conference that after the restoration of services, all users would receive 5GB of free internet for three days. Mobile internet services were resumed around 3:00 PM local time.

The report noted that users of Robi, Grameenphone, Banglalink and other operators in Dhaka confirmed that they were able to access the internet on their mobile phones around 3pm. The government had shut down mobile internet services on July 18 following the escalation of violence.

University students in Dhaka and other cities protested against the reservation system for public sector jobs reserved for family members of war heroes who fought in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. The protests turned violent and resulted in more than 100 deaths, although no official figures are available.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina defended her decision to impose a curfew following the violence, saying strict measures were needed to ensure the safety of life and property. However, the situation in Bangladesh had returned to normal on Wednesday.