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

He revealed the information during an interrogation by the Investigation Agency of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) at the safe house on Thursday, said ICT Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam.

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.

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

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

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

Palak was arrested by the Detective Branch (DB) of police from Nikunja on 14 August and was later shown arrested in 46 cases.