The number of the country's active internet connections increased about 20 percent year-on-year to 8.78 crore at the end of June on the back of fast-growing mobile internet and the government's push for digitalisation.

The internet industry added more than 1.44 crore active connections in the last one year, according to a report of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission published recently.

Since the launch of 3G in September 2013, mobile internet connections rose 134.38 percent, driving digitalisation, said industry leaders.

Thanks to the launch of 4G in February this year, subscribers are getting higher speed and the fourth-generation technology is expected to boost the internet connections further.

"Internet has become the main tool of digital life in recent times, and in Bangladesh, users have been adopting it more and more in the last few years," said Md Jahurul Haque, acting chairman of the commission.

Mobile internet became available in Bangladesh in 2005 and after the launch of 3G, the number of users started to jump.

"Still, we have miles to go to reach our optimum level. However, the success that the industry has so far achieved needs to be celebrated," said MA Hakim, president of the Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB).

Initially, broadband internet users were largely concentrated in three major cities, namely Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet. After the government developed the high-speed networking channel, broadband expanded to district and upazila levels.

A decade ago, there were 10 lakh to 12 lakh broadband connections. It has now reached 56.85 lakh, said Hakim, who has more than 20 years' of experience in internet business. The country's bandwidth consumption also grew: from 5 to 6 Gbps a decade ago to 670 Gbps at present.

Of the bandwidth, 85 percent is being used by the broadband network, Hakim said. The ISPAB chief hailed the mobile operators for boosting the internet users' number in Bangladesh.

Mahmud Hossain, chief corporate affairs officer of Grameenphone, is, however, not happy with the mobile phone operators' overall performance in this regard.

"It is true that the number has increased noticeably. But I think we are at a primary level when it comes to internet using. The use has just started."

Mobile internet users numbered 8.20 crore at the end of June, meaning out of the country's 15.09 crore active mobile connections, 54.34 percent have internet connections.

When 3G was launched, mobile internet connections stood at 3.65 crore.

The mobile industry added more than 1 crore new connections every year on an average to their network in the last five years.

However, quality service is still an issue.

Telecom and ICT Minister Mustafa Jabbar said the government is very close to establishing a digital country as per its promises.

"In many cases, we have achieved our targets, and internet usage is one of the achievements though there are quality issues."

He said the industry has reached a stage in terms of numbers and if quality improves, it will ultimately take the industry to a mature level.

He said the government is working to improve the service quality and hopes it will help add more people to the internet network.

Jabbar said the industry will grow further as the Internet of Things and other related devices will need connections.

When televisions and air conditioners are linked with the internet, the number of connections will go up and even surpass the figure of the total population, he said.

Public property means the "public's" property – it doesn't belong to any individual or political party. But recent examples tell a different story. The ruling Awami League is going to create an extraordinary example in a soon-to-be-held rally in Rajshahi, where a special train has been earmarked for this occasion. The question is: can a political party use a national asset in this way?

It must be clarified that even though we criticise politicians and the parties they represent, at the end of the day, we have to – or want to – go to them for solutions. It's a proven fact that when politicians lead a country through a political process, the country benefits the most. There are ample examples of how non-political forces steer a nation, with Pakistan being a prominent example; a country that is on the verge of bankruptcy. Comparatively, India has no fewer internal problems. But as they are ruled by a politician-led democratic process, they have still managed to create a strong footing.

Our everlasting hope is that political parties will govern Bangladesh through a proper, acceptable and independent election. Unfortunately, as time goes by, a gross lack of equality, justice and good governance is gaining institutional acceptance.

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Two by-polls, 29 years apart – yet so similar?

The Daily Star Bangla reported that the Awami League will hold a rally in Rajshahi Madrasa Public Speaking Ground on January 29. This is a rally organised by the political party AL, and not by the AL government. Still, a special train has been arranged for this "political party's" rally.

Now, why is this a problem? What harm is there in arranging a special train for those attending a specific party's rally?

Well, firstly, why should there be a special arrangement for this, when there aren't even enough trains to service the general populace, and when the passenger to train ratio is quite low?

Secondly, can we recall what the ruling party's attitude and the transport situation were like when the BNP tried organising a rally in Rajshahi? Last year, on September 28, BNP announced that they would organise a rally in Rajshahi on December 3. Before it, a transport strike was called in eight districts of the division, and enforced from 6am on December 1. In fact, the strike was underway even before its stipulated starting time.

This strike saw the ceasing of movement for all kinds of vehicles, including buses, trucks and three-wheelers. Rajshahi was virtually cut off from all adjacent districts. Thus, it became very hard for BNP leaders and activists to join the rally from neighbouring districts. It was evident that the transport strike was devised in order to impede BNP supporters from attending. Although the government announced that the strike was called by transport owners and that they had nothing to do with it, any conscious being can gauge that the reality was the contrary.

At one end, we see people being actively prevented from attending a BNP rally using transport strikes, police checkposts being put up every couple of kilometres, and BNP leaders'/activists' homes being raided, and them being arrested. On another end, special trains are to be arranged for the AL's rallies. Why should two political parties of the same nation receive polar opposite treatments?

We take for granted that the ruling party will get some added benefits. But does that mean they can misuse public resources? Can they act against another political party in this way? What of the tall talks on equality and justice we hear so often?

When there's a BNP rally, 3G and 4G services for mobile networks are usually halted around the venue. But the government doesn't even bother to explain the reasons behind this. On December 3, 2022, Rajshahi did not have 3G and 4G services. Queries revealed that the BTRC had given a "directive" to carry this out.

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How do bus strikes ahead of BNP rallies affect transport workers?

Did the BTRC's directive only harm and deprive BNP leaders and activists? Did not the general population also suffer? When the transport strike prevented BNP supporters from travelling between districts, were they the only ones affected? Did the whole region consist of BNP supporters, leaders and activists? Is there any explanation for such government actions, which cause the people to suffer?

It can be uncomfortable to have these pointed out, but even when we do, the government pays no heed. When a political party is elected by the popular vote, but then becomes an authoritarian regime, getting re-elected via night votes and voter-less polls, the general people start feeling bitter towards said party. People start comparing such political governments with military dictatorships, which is by no means a positive sign for our politics, or for politicians in general.

The ruling AL's politicians claim they have no aspirations of holding on to power and that they do not want any personal achievements, either – they simply want to serve the public.

Undoubtedly, serving the public is a good deed. But what kind of "service" do people get when their mobile networks are disrupted? Do transport strikes serve the people? What does "serving the people" actually mean to the ruling party? Does it mean only serving their own leaders, activists and supporters? Aren't opposition party affiliates a part of this country, too? Don't they also deserve to be served by the government?

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Mahfuz Anam writes: What is the state of Awami League as a political party?

People are losing voting rights, they cannot cast votes during polls, the prices of essentials are skyrocketing – and the government seems to be taking no notice. Ignoring the public's pleas, it is instead increasing the prices of fuel, gas and electricity. Each development project is seeing a cost increase, which is affecting the economy. We are experiencing an acute US dollar crisis and yet, money laundering persists. The government is not even taking effective steps against people who have been found responsible for causing these issues.

I want to end this piece with an example. Back when the military dictator HM Ershad was in power, the 15-party alliance led by the AL, seven-party alliance led by the BNP, and the five-party leftwing alliance, participated in a unified protest. Then, Ershad, who lost all popular support, stopped production in Adamjee Jute Mill and brought in 15,000 to 20,000 workers to join his rallies. That initiated the eventual doom of Adamjee Jute Mill. Later, the BNP came to power and shut down this mill, which once was bursting with potential.

Bangladesh Railway is already riddled with injustice, anomalies, and corruption. Have we considered what ill fate might befall the BR if such political usage of trains, as mentioned above, becomes a recurring trend?

Golam Mortoza is the editor of The Daily Star Bangla.

Mobile internet service has been blocked at BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s Gulshan political office and its adjacent areas, sources at the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) today said.

A high official of BTRC told The Daily Star wishing anonymity that all the mobile phone operators were given instruction to block 3G and 4G services in the area.

BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan said they faced difficulties to talk to Tarique Rahman since afternoon.

“Amid network difficulties we completed the interview process for today (Monday),” he said.

The interviews for the day ended at 10:00pm, he added.

Mobile phone users in Sylhet have complained that they have been facing difficulties to connect the internet on their devices since 10:00am, ahead of the BNP rally in the district today.

Sources in several telecom operators said the BTRC has directed them to keep the 3G and 4G data services shut in Sylhet from 10:00am to 7:30pm today.

Talking to this newspaper, Abdur Rahman Hira, a BNP activist, said he had troubles connecting to the internet on his mobile phone since 10:00am.