The devastating floods in Bangladesh have severely disrupted telecommunication services in at least 12 districts, hindering rescue and relief efforts. Stranded individuals are facing immense distress due to their inability to communicate with loved ones.
The lack of connectivity is particularly concerning in rural areas where access to essential services is limited.
While there have been some improvements in Cumilla, Noakhali, and Lakshmipur, Feni remains in the worst condition with over 90% of mobile towers inoperable. The situation is dire, as many people are relying on mobile phones for essential communication, including updates on flood conditions, relief efforts, and the safety of family members.
Feni is in the worst condition with 92.6 per cent of the mobile towers or sites of the district are now inactive. Of the 653 towers there, 605 are down. Only 48 are operational there. Operators are worried about how long it will be possible to keep them running.
Despite the bad situation for the past two days, there has been some improvement in the telecommunication services in Cumilla and Noakhali. Out of 1,151 towers in Noakhali, 175 are out of order and in Cumilla 243 out of 2,529 towers are defunct. The operators said that it will be possible to make the non-working towers operational quickly.
Apart from this, 36 mobile towers in Lakshmipur, 10 in Brahmanbaria, 86 in Chattogram, 30 in Khagrachari, three in Habiganj, 40 in Moulvibazar and 7 in Sylhet are inactive.
The BTRC has reported that telecommunication services are still disrupted in several areas of 10 districts, including Feni, Noakhali, Cumilla, Lakshmipur, Brahmanbaria, Chattogram, Khagrachari, Habiganj, Moulvibazar, and Sylhet. The widespread disruption of telecommunication services has made it difficult for local authorities to coordinate rescue and relief efforts, as well as to provide essential information to affected communities.
To address the challenges posed by the floods, the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology has deployed 10 V-SATs, with five of them sent to the Feni District Administrator. These satellite communication systems are being used to establish temporary communication links in areas where traditional infrastructure has been damaged.
Telecom operators have also been instructed to take measures to ensure the resilience of their network systems, including implementing battery backup, diesel generators, and portable generators. These measures are aimed at mitigating the impact of power outages and other disruptions.
The primary reason for the mobile towers becoming inactive is the lack of electricity connection. Despite facing significant challenges, telecom operators are working diligently to maintain services under the guidance of the BTRC. However, the extent of the damage to infrastructure and the ongoing flooding have made it difficult to restore full telecommunication services in many affected areas.