Zunaid Ahmed Palak, the former state minister for ICT, has admitted to deliberately shutting down the internet across Bangladesh during the mass uprising in July, following orders from former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
The revelation came during testimony recorded by the International Crimes Tribunal investigation agency after a questioning session held on Wednesday (18 December), according to Chief Prosecutor Tazul Islam, who disclosed the information at a press briefing at the tribunal this afternoon.
“They [Hasina and Awami League lawmakers] sought to sever Bangladesh’s connection to the outside world and conceal the atrocities committed during the protests,” Tazul stated, referring to the testimonies provided by Palak.
The chief prosecutor further revealed that Palak confessed to fabricating explanations for the internet blackout at the time. The justification, which attributed the shutdown to a fire at data centres in Dhaka’s Mohakhali area and alleged vandalism of telecommunication infrastructure by miscreants, was false.
Palak's admission adds a significant dimension to ongoing investigations into actions taken during the public uprising that ultimately led to the ouster of Sheikh Hasina's administration.
