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Roundup: Internet down drill to be conducted in Bangladesh after Dhaka terror attack

Xinhua, August 1, 2016 Adjust font size:

Internet vulnerabilities are garnering attention of Bangladesh officials in the wake of the two major terror attacks that occurred here, including the July 1 siege staged by militants.

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) was weighing options for isolating capital Dhaka's strategically important places' Internet in event of any such crisis.

BTRC took the decision after media report Gulshan attackers used Internet service to convey the messages of their horrific operation to their foreign links during the hours of attack.

BTRC Secretary Sarwar Alam Monday evening told Xinhua that "the commission decided to conduct a drill aimed at testing the response time the relevant stakeholders take to shut down Internet operation in case of an emergency incident.

He said the drill will take place at places in capital Dhaka and elsewhere in the country Monday night and early Tuesday.

But he could not tell immediately when and where in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country the Internet down drill will be conducted.

According to the official, BTRC has already instructed all relevant stakeholders including Internet service providers for necessary measures to conduct the drill which may last for half an hour to one hour.

"The purpose of this drill is to see whether stakeholders concerned can isolate an affected area in time."

"It is also a drill to test our ability to halt Internet services."

Terror-gripped Bangladeshi law enforcers have already stepped up efforts in fighting terrorism and militancy.

Before the wounds of the July 1 deadly terror attack at a Spanish restaurant in Dhaka, that left 22 people, including 18 foreigners and two police officers dead, had even begun to heal, Bangladesh suffered a fresh blow on July 7 when terrorists attacked Muslims' Eid prayers.

At least four people were killed, including two police officers and one of the attackers, after several explosions and gunfire took place at the entrance of the country's largest Sholakia Eid prayer venue in Kishoreganj district, some 117 km northeast of Dhaka, on the morning of July 7. Endit