A low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal has caused severe power outages across various parts of Bangladesh, significantly affecting the country's telecommunications infrastructure. With widespread electricity disruptions, more than 5,000 mobile network towers have gone offline, leaving many users without adequate signal or internet access.
Faiz Ahmed Taiyeb, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser of the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology, shared the update on his verified Facebook page on Friday morning.
According to Taiyeb, as of Friday morning, 5,904 mobile towers or 35.8% of the country's total, have been completely shut down due to the ongoing adverse weather conditions.
The worst-hit regions include Barisal, South Sylhet, Tangail, Chandpur, Mymensingh, North Dhaka, Comilla, Noakhali, and South Chattogram, where mobile signals are unavailable and internet services have come to a halt in many areas.
Nationwide, a total of 8,262 towers, about 44%, have lost power connection and are categorised under "mains failure." Currently, 64.2% of mobile network sites remain operational.
To maintain connectivity, telecom operators and tower companies have deployed portable generators at 624 affected sites. An additional 504 generators are in transit and are expected to be installed soon, restoring service in impacted areas.
Taiyeb assured that mobile operators, tower companies, and rural electrification officials are working around the clock to tackle the crisis. Emergency power solutions are being rapidly deployed to keep the network running and restore services as quickly as possible.
