The Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB) has strongly condemned a series of attacks, vandalism, looting, extortion and attempts to seize network operations targeting internet service providers in Dhaka and other parts of the country, including the corporate headquarters of Dot Internet in the capital's Mohammadpur area.
Referring to the attacks carried out on the night of 9 June, he said internet service providers' offices in Lalmatia, Badda, Chandpur Sadar, Debidwar in Cumilla, Gazipur and Bogura had come under attack.
"These attacks are not merely assaults on individual companies; they are direct attacks on the country's ICT infrastructure and digital economy," Mr Hakim said.
He alleged that groups of assailants forcibly entered the offices of the affected companies, carrying out extensive vandalism and looting. Several officials and employees were injured during the incidents, while important technological equipment and infrastructure sustained significant damage, he added.
Mr Hakim said such attacks had created serious concerns regarding the security of the sector, the investment climate and the continuity of internet services.
On behalf of the association, ISPAB placed six demands before the government, including immediate identification and arrest of those responsible for the attacks and ensuring exemplary punishment for the perpetrators.
The association also called for strengthened security measures for information technology and internet infrastructure, treating them as critical national assets.
Among its other demands, ISPAB urged the authorities to adopt effective measures to prevent similar incidents in future, provide necessary support to ensure the safe operation of affected companies, and direct local police stations to respond promptly whenever internet service providers come under attack.
Speakers at the press conference stressed that ensuring the security of ICT sector enterprises is essential at a time when Bangladesh is pursuing digital transformation and a technology-driven economy. Failure to do so could have adverse consequences for both investment and service delivery, they warned.
The association expressed the hope that the government and law enforcement agencies would take swift action to investigate the incidents, bring those responsible to justice and help ensure the safe development of the country's information technology sector.
Among others present at the press conference were ISPAB Secretary General Nazmul Karim Bhuiyan, Vice-President Neyamul Haque Khan, Joint Secretaries Mahbub Alam Raju and Fuad Mohammad Sharafuddin, Treasurer Moin Uddin Ahmed, and directors Rashedur Rahman Rajan, Md Mithu Hawlader, Sabbir Ahmed, Raisul Islam Tuhin, Md Zubayer Islam and SM Saiful Islam Selim.
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