Over 5,000 mobile towers down as depression-triggered storms disrupt telecom services
Regions currently most affected include Barisal, Sylhet South, Tangail, Chandpur, Mymensingh, Dhaka North, Comilla, Noakhali, and Chattogram South
Telecommunication services across the country have been severely disrupted as more than 5,000 mobile towers, known as base transceiver stations (BTS), went offline due to power outages caused by storms and tidal surges triggered by the recent deep depression over the Bay of Bengal.
In a post on his Facebook profile today (30 May), Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, special assistant to the chief adviser on post, telecommunication and ICT affairs, said, "Due to storm and tidal surge caused by the depression and its impact on the national power grid, telecom services in many regions are being affected.
"Telecommunication and rural electrification workers are working tirelessly to restore the network."
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Regions currently most affected include Barisal, Sylhet South, Tangail, Chandpur, Mymensingh, Dhaka North, Comilla, Noakhali, and Chattogram South, he said.
Citing updates from authorities concerned, he said a total of 8,262 sites experienced mains power failure, which accounts for 44% of total sites. Currently, 64.2% of the sites are operational, while 5,904 sites (35.8%) remain down.
Portable generators have been connected to 624 sites, with another 504 units en route to support network restoration efforts, according to Taiyeb.
The disruption follows heavy rainfall and strong winds across the country caused by the deep depression that formed in the Bay yesterday (29 May). It has since weakened into a land depression and is expected to dissipate into a low-pressure area by the end of today.
According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, rainfall is likely to continue throughout Friday and into Saturday, with heavy to very heavy rainfall forecasted in at least five divisions.
