The prosecution at the International Crimes Tribunal has alleged that the Awami League government shut down internet connectivity during the July 2024 mass uprising to prevent news of the ongoing genocide against students and the public from spreading at home and abroad.
The prosecution also accused Sajeeb Wazed Joy, former information and communication technology (ICT) adviser to ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, and former ICT state minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak of direct involvement in the decision.
Speaking to journalists on the tribunal premises on Sunday, prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim said a senior official of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) had testified in a crimes against humanity case against Joy and Palak.
The official submitted data and evidence relating to the decision to suspend internet services during the uprising.
According to Tamim, Palak instructed the BTRC official on 15 July 2024 to suspend 3G and 4G internet services at four public universities across the country.
The following day, after six people, including Abu Sayed, were killed, an online BTRC meeting was held with the participation of Palak, Joy and other senior officials, the prosecutor said.
Tamim further alleged that Major General (retd) Ziaul Ahsan, former director general of the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC), convened a meeting and subsequently shut down internet services nationwide.
The BTRC official described these developments in his testimony, while five supporting documents were formally submitted to the tribunal.
Tamim said the primary objective of the internet blackout was to prevent people in Bangladesh and the international community from learning about what the prosecution described as genocide committed against students and members of the public during the movement.
He alleged that the Awami League government deliberately cut internet connections to suppress information about the mass killings and conceal the violence during the uprising.
