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A digital forensic investigation by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has claimed that a secret satellite-based telecommunications network kept former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina connected during the nationwide internet blackout imposed amid the July-August 2024 movement.
According to the ICT’s Digital Forensic Team, while internet services were suspended across the country, high-speed connectivity at Gono Bhaban was maintained through a dedicated backup system using the Bangladesh Satellite and a rooftop tower configuration.
Digital forensic expert Tanvir Hasan Zoha said the setup allowed uninterrupted internet access at Gono Bhaban despite the nationwide shutdown.
The forensic analysis further alleged that Sheikh Hasina began sending confidential messages to relatives on August 1 and made calls to around 70 phone numbers on August 3. Investigators claimed that 11 of those numbers were registered using fake National Identity (NID) details.
The investigation also alleged that on August 4, amid growing security concerns, Sheikh Hasina switched to a satellite phone and staff members’ devices. It claimed she contacted Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar through a satellite phone to seek temporary asylum.
According to investigators, after receiving a positive response from New Delhi, she made two final calls before leaving the country by a special helicopter from Kurmitola Air Movement. The satellite phone was later recovered from Gono Bhaban, the report said.
The forensic team also alleged that former military official Ziaul Ahsan, who is under arrest in a disappearance case, had established a high-capacity private server room at his Jolshiri residence with bank-grade power capacity to erase communication records.
Zoha said investigators recovered evidence showing messages and voice calls were made using the satellite phone, although no video calls were found. He added that an application has been submitted to the Chief Prosecutor to investigate the device’s origin and registration, with further details expected after the inquiry is completed.