Internet was shut down on Hasina’s orders
Zunaid Ahmed Palak, former state minister for posts, telecommunications and information technology, has confessed to deliberately shutting down the internet nationwide during the July uprising on former prime minister Sheikh Hasina's orders.
His testimony was recorded by the International Crime Tribunal's investigation agency following a questioning session held on Wednesday, said Chief Prosecutor Md Tajul Islam while addressing journalists at the tribunal yesterday.
"They [Hasina and Awami League lawmakers] wanted to ensure that Bangladesh was disconnected from the rest of the world to hide the instances of mass killings during the protests," Tajul said.
According to the chief prosecutor, Palak also said he had lied by saying that the internet blackout was caused by a fire incident in data centres in Dhaka's Mohakhali and destruction of telecommunication infrastructure by protesters.
"A WhatsApp group was created with International Internet Gateway service providers. A direct order was communicated through this group to shut down the internet immediately. They were asked to confirm after completion of the order," said Tajul.
Tajul said the interrogation was done in the full presence of lawyers. "There was a glass partition between Palak and the investigation agency, and his lawyers. This is as per the international standard. There is no scope for torture or coercion."
The prosecution was expected to submit a probe report against several government officials, including Maj Gen Ziaul Ahsan, yesterday, but the bench granted them an additional two months.
The bench, led by tribunal chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder and members Justice Md Shofiul Alam Mahmood and Judge Md Mohitul Haq Enam Chowdhury, passed the order.
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