DHAKA, Sept 21, 2024 (BSS) - Internet service remains operational in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) and the government did not shut it down anywhere, said an official statement today.

A media statement of the Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology said that a report that said the government had shut down the internet because of the tense situation in the CHT is not true. 

In response to the ministry's query, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) today said it didn't issue any directive to shut the mobile network and stop broadband internet in Khagrachhari and Rangamati districts.

The telecom regulator said that mobile network and internet were disrupted in some parts of the districts due to cut down of fiber optic cables and power disruption during the untoward situation.

BTRC said that clashes took place on Thursday in Dighinala of Khagrachari district and at that time 16 network towers of mobile operator Robi become non-operational as the optical fiber of NTTN operators- Summit Communications Limited and Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL) were damaged due to the arson incidents. It was not possible to repair all those towers immediately due to the ongoing tense situation. Robi has about 150 network towers in the district.  

The release said that Robi has managed to bring 14 towers into operation till Friday while two towers are yet to be repaired. All sites are expected to be operational soon. 

Due to this, the mobile internet connection was slightly disrupted which is currently normal.

As section 144 was in force in the concerned areas, the repair work was delayed. Later all telecommunication works were declared exemption from the section 144, said the ministry release.

On the other hand, Internet Service Providers (ISP) in an explanation said that broadband internet services were operational in Khagrachhari and Rangamati districts on Friday during the untoward situation. However, due to the damage of internet connection cable in some areas and the power disruption in a number of areas, a small number of customers are facing internet connection disruption. 

The broadband internet services are gradually being restored in these areas as the ISP operators in the areas are working to repair the damaged network and provide internet service to the customers through generators. 

The people of the CHT areas have been requested not to be misguided in this regard, added the release.