Internet services across the country were shut down during the quota reform movement as per the advice of Sheikh Hasina, said former State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak on Thursday.

Palak revealed this information during an interrogation at the safe house of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) investigation agency on Thursday, said ICT prosecutor Tajul Islam while talking to reporters.

While testifying before the ICT investigation agency, Palak admitted that the internet shutdown was an attempt to suppress information about the July-August mass killings. The order to shut down internet services came directly from former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, he said.

Zunaid Ahmed Palak hospitalized while on remand

He clarified that the internet was not shut down due to accidents or fires during the uprising.

All domestic and international internet gateways were closed under Sheikh Hasina's directive to prevent information about the genocide from spreading, Palak added.

On December 12, the ICT approved the interrogation of Palak about the shutdown of the internet during the July-August quota reform movement.

Menon, Inu, Palak sent to jail after remand in murder case

Zunaid Ahmed Palak was arrested by the Detective Branch (DB) of police from Nikunja on August 14, and was later shown arrested in 46 cases, and the court granted him a 31-day remand in various cases.

He was last remanded in a case filed by Jatrabari Police Station on November 9.