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Telecom companies allegedly obey unconstitutional orders, cut services without warning

Staff Reporter

Staff Reporter

Publish: 18 Jul 2024, 01:32 AM

Telecom companies allegedly obey unconstitutional orders, cut services without warning

The ongoing protests in Bangladesh demanding quota reform in government jobs have turned violent, with at least six people reported dead due to clashes with police and ruling party activists.

As anxieties rise, communication channels have been disrupted, with mobile internet services shut down across the country.

Reports from various media outlets indicate that access to popular social media platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Telegram has been blocked in several districts, particularly in university areas.

Furthermore, 4G services provided by mobile companies have been suspended nationwide.

Multiple media outlets, including The Daily Star, report that mobile companies in Bangladesh have been instructed by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to suspend 4G services.

These companies have reportedly compiled without providing any notice or explanation to their customers.

Digital rights activists argue that network and internet service providers, by complying with government orders to shut down internet services, are acting unconstitutionally.

They emphasize that Article 39 of the Bangladesh Constitution guarantees freedom of thought, conscience, and expression, which is heavily reliant on free and open internet access.

Therefore, disrupting internet services and imposing unwarranted control effectively violates this fundamental right.

Moreover, they assert that suspending communication services without any prior notice is a clear violation of consumer rights for all affected individuals.

 

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Publisher: Nahidul Khan
Editor in Chief: Dr Saimum Parvez

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