Former state minister Palak allegedly ordered internet shutdown during July protests

A senior telecom official has told the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) that former state minister for information Zunaid Ahmed Palak personally called him during the July Uprising and instructed him to shut down internet services.

The testimony in the crimes against humanity case unfolded at Tribunal 1 on Tuesday.

Mirza Kamal Ahmed, former managing director of Bangladesh Submarine Cables and currently deputy managing director of BTCL, gave the statement as the fifth prosecution witness in the case against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and Palak.

Kamal Ahmed said, around 8pm on Jul 18, 2024, an official informed him that BTRC had ordered the shutdown of submarine bandwidth at Cox’s Bazar and Kuakata landing stations.

He said such an order had never been issued at submarine level before, leaving him “stunned”.

“Around 8:45pm, the then BTRC director general Brigadier General Kazi Mustafizur Rahman called me and instructed me to shut down the internet at submarine level,” he said in his testimony.

“Then, around 9pm, Zunaid Ahmed Palak called me and asked why we were not complying with BTRC’s instructions. He asked how long it would take to shut down the internet at the submarine level.

“I said it would take about 15 minutes. He then instructed me to confirm the shutdown,” Kamal added.

He added that he immediately conveyed the government decision through his operations general manager, and both submarine cables at Cox’s Bazar and Kuakata were shut down within 15 minutes.

The tribunal is hearing allegations that internet shutdowns were linked to crimes against humanity during the July protests.

Investigation into the case began on Aug 14, 2024.

Formal charges were filed on Dec 4, 2025, and charges were framed on Jan 21 this year against Joy and Palak.

The prosecution has listed 32 witnesses, including injured victims, relatives, witnesses, and technical and forensic experts.

One allegation states that on Jul 14, 2024, Palak allegedly made a provocative Facebook post on Joy’s instruction, triggering attacks on protesters the following day.

Another charge claims the internet shutdown facilitated violent repression, resulting in at least 28 deaths, including Rasel and Mosleh Uddin.

A third charge concerns the killing of 34 people in Uttara.

Palak is in custody and was produced before the tribunal on Tuesday, while Joy remains absconding.

The court has ordered publication of notices for Joy to surrender. A state-appointed lawyer is defending him.