Bangladesh is set to restore mobile 4G internet services starting from 3 PM today, according to the State Minister for Post, Telecommunications, and Information Technology, Junaid Ahmed Palak. The announcement came after a meeting with mobile operators at the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) this morning.
The restoration follows a prolonged disruption that started on July 17 at midnight when the government shut down the 4G network amidst quota reform protests, leading to widespread demonstrations and violence. The government had imposed a curfew on July 19, which is still intermittently in effect.
In a bid to compensate users for the inconvenience, all mobile internet customers will receive a 5GB data bonus valid for three days once the service is reactivated. “Customers will receive the bonus automatically as they reconnect to the network,” Minister Palak explained.
The meeting at BTRC also included representatives from mobile financial service providers like bKash, Nagad, Rocket, and Upay, indicating the broad impact of the internet shutdown on digital transactions and commerce.
The re-establishment of internet services is expected to boost business activities and provide relief to citizens who have been significantly impacted by the internet blackout in the midst of ongoing political unrest.