Govt cancels internet blackout programme for July commemoration

The government has canceled the symbolic one-minute internet blackout programme, which was announced as part of the July 'Renaissance' event series, cultural adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki confirmed on Thursday.

In a post on his verified Facebook page, Farooki said there had been internal hesitation about the programme from the start. “We removed and re-added the blackout multiple times,” he wrote, adding that many felt the idea of a one-minute internet shutdown was not ideal.

After further discussions, the programme was ultimately dropped. Farooki thanked the public for their feedback and confirmed that revised event schedules have been shared, with all other programmes remaining unchanged.

The blackout was originally planned as a symbolic gesture to remember the student-public movement of last year. The government had earlier decided to shut down mobile internet for one minute on July 18, 2025, as part of the commemoration.

The decision follows a similar internet shutdown on July 18, 2024, when the then Awami League government abruptly suspended internet services nationwide at 9 PM, sparking widespread criticism.

The Posts and Telecommunications Division and the Information and Communication Technology Division were slated to implement the blackout programme.