Internet service providers and cable operators have postponed the decision to shut down their services across the country for three-hours every day, scheduled to start from tomorrow.

It has been postponed for seven days, MA Hakim, president of Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB), told The Daily Star this evening.

ISPAB and The Cable Operators Association of Bangladesh (COAB) took the decision after an emergency meeting with Post and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar at 6:00pm today to resolve the issue.

Zunaid Ahmed Palak, state minister for ICT, and Md Afzal Hossain, secretary, posts and telecommunications division, were also present at the meeting held through a digital platform.

"As the minister assured us that the issue would be resolved soon, we postponed our decision for one week," ISPAB President Hakim said.

The Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) mayor has invited them for discussion tomorrow to resolve the issue.

"We hope there will be positive discussion with the mayor," he added.

Minister Mustafa Jabbar said in the meeting that the principal secretary to the prime minister will brief the PM on the matter tomorrow. Therefore, the strike should be suspended until a decision is taken by the prime minister.

"Internet service providers have made significant contributions towards digital Bangladesh. So, the government will take their logical demands seriously," the minister said.

Jabbar said that DSCC has verbally assured that they will not remove wires from Sunday till there is no alternative arrangement.

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