Nationwide Telecom Services Disrupted as Over 5,000 Mobile Towers Shut Down

Staff Correspondent

Telecommunication services across the country have faced severe disruptions due to power outages caused by recent storms and tidal surges triggered by a low-pressure system. As a result, more than 5,000 telecom sites have become non-functional.

On Friday morning, Foyez Ahmed Taiyab, Special Assistant to the Principal Advisor of the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology, shared this information on Facebook.

Foyez Ahmed stated that telecom services have been disrupted in many areas due to natural disasters. Multiple mobile network sites have shut down due to power failures.

He said, “The storm and tidal surge caused by the low-pressure system severely disrupted power supply, significantly hampering the operation of telecom sites. Workers from rural power authorities and telecom operators are working tirelessly to restore these sites.”

According to his data, a total of 5,904 sites (about 35.8% of all sites) have gone offline. Main power connections have been cut to 8,262 sites (44%). Currently, 64.2% of sites remain operational. To manage the situation, 624 portable generators have been deployed to sites, with another 504 generators on the way.

The worst-affected regions include Barishal, South Sylhet, Tangail, Chandpur, Mymensingh, North Dhaka, Cumilla, Noakhali, and South Chattogram.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department reported that the deep depression over the Bay of Bengal has moved inland, turning into a land depression. It crossed the coast near India’s Sagar Island and Bangladesh’s Khepupara late Thursday night before entering the country through Satkhira.

Although its intensity is gradually weakening, heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected in five divisions today. The Met Office also predicted continued rainfall on Saturday.