Living abroad, the recent turmoil in my home country has been deeply concerning. The government's decision to shut down the internet amid escalating student protests, resulting in mounting deaths, highlights a disturbing trend of state repression and control.
The recent wave of student protests in Bangladesh was ignited by the government's enforcement of a controversial quota system. This system allocated 30% of stable civil-service jobs to relatives of veterans from Bangladesh's independence war with Pakistan. Seen as unjust and discriminatory by many students, this policy led to widespread demonstrations.
Initially peaceful, these protests quickly turned violent as the government deployed military, police, and paramilitary forces to quash the dissent.
The government's response to the protests was swift and severe. Reports indicate that nearly 200 students have died in the ensuing clashes with government forces. These confrontations were not limited to physical altercations; the state also targeted digital communication channels to stifle the flow of information and control the narrative.
The Ongoing Effects of the Internet Shutdown
In a bid to contain the unrest and prevent the international community from witnessing the brutal crackdown, the Bangladeshi government initiated a countrywide internet shutdown. Mobile internet and social media access were the first to be restricted, followed by a complete blackout of fixed-line internet connectivity in some areas. This move was aimed at creating an information blackout, making it difficult for the world to see the atrocities being committed against the protesters.
Telenor, through its mobile operator Grameenphone, confirmed the shutdown of the 3G and 4G networks in Bangladesh.
Grace Ngoh, a representative from Telenor Asia, stated, "Grameenphone’s customers currently have no access to the internet or data services with only 2G services (voice/SMS) being available." The company expressed deep concern and is in close dialogue with Grameenphone's management team and local authorities, hoping for a swift restoration of services. Ngoh emphasized the critical nature of internet services for the people of Bangladesh, particularly for staying connected and accessing essential services such as healthcare and banking.
External verification from Cloudflare, a prominent internet security company, also supports the claims of a government-directed shutdown. According to their Outage Center, the internet blackout in Bangladesh began on July 18, 2024, impacting various network providers including Carnival Internet, Earth Telecommunication, Robi Axiata, Banglalink, and Grameenphone. The scope and scale of the shutdown clearly indicate it was a deliberate act by the government.
After five full days of being offline, metrics from NetBlocks show a partial restoration of fixed-line internet connectivity as of Tuesday evening. However, social media and mobile data restrictions continue, limiting the public's right to communicate and stay informed. The blackout has made it difficult to verify reports, but over 170 deaths have been reported at the protests.
Economic Fallout and Disruption
The internet blackout had far-reaching consequences beyond the immediate suppression of dissent. It disrupted the lives of millions of Bangladeshis, who rely on the internet for various essential services. Mobile financial services, crucial for many people's daily transactions, came to a halt, leaving countless individuals without access to their money.
The digital commerce sector, including e-commerce, logistics, and ride-hailing services, faced significant financial losses, estimated at $5 million per day.
Export and import activities, heavily dependent on the internet, were also severely affected. The suspension of internet services painted Bangladesh as an unreliable business partner, potentially damaging its reputation in the global market. The Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) reported that many IT firms and freelancers were unable to notify clients about the outage, risking their international standing and contracts.
The internet shutdown also dealt a massive blow to Bangladesh's burgeoning Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry, which generates an estimated annual revenue of $2 billion. BPO firms provide crucial support services, including live voice and text chat, back-office support, email support, invoicing, online store management, and image processing to international clients. With the internet down, these services came to a halt, leading to significant financial losses and jeopardizing the livelihoods of thousands of workers.
Recent Efforts to Turn Bangladesh into a Surveillance State
The internet shutdown is part of a broader strategy by the Bangladeshi government to control and monitor its citizens. Over the years, the government has heavily invested in spyware and surveillance technologies, creating a comprehensive surveillance state. This includes eavesdropping on phone lines, reading text messages, hacking into computers, and compromising social media accounts.
The Digital Security Act (DSA) of 2018 has been particularly controversial, with rights groups accusing the government of misusing it to target politicians, journalists, and ordinary citizens.
In 2023, the Sheikh Hasina-led government proposed new legislation titled the "Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission Regulation for Digital, Social Media and OTT Platforms." This draft legislation aims to place social media platforms and tech companies in the dock for the online activity of their users, instead of prosecuting potential offenders.
This means platforms like Facebook would be required to act as censors, removing content that the government deems unacceptable.
The proposed Act has drawn criticism for its vague and broad definitions of what constitutes "insulting," "harmful," and "offensive" content. Critics argue that these definitions will compel intermediaries to over-censor, leading to unreasonable restrictions on content creators. The legislation also mandates that social media intermediaries must enable traceability and identification of the first originator of any information, effectively breaking end-to-end encryption and compromising user privacy.
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) and other watchdogs have termed the draft Act "anti-constitutional," warning that it would turn Bangladesh into a surveillance-based nation. The law's resemblance to India's IT Rules, 2021, which have been widely criticized, further raises concerns about its potential impact on press freedom and civil liberties in Bangladesh.
AI-Driven Mobile Phone Surveillance System
In addition to these measures, the government discussed implementing an AI-driven mobile phone surveillance system last year. This new system, known as the Integrated Lawful Interception System (ILIS), significantly enhances the government's ability to track and monitor mobile phone users.
According to reports, this system allows police and intelligence agencies to pinpoint the exact location of a mobile phone user and access other confidential information.
The system's proposed implementation raised serious concerns about privacy and the potential for abuse. While government officials claimed it was intended to curb crimes and prevent anti-state activities, there was widespread apprehension that it would be used to monitor opposition leaders, journalists, and any individuals deemed "troublesome" by the government. This new level of surveillance adds to the existing tools used under the Digital Security Act, further eroding privacy and freedom of expression in Bangladesh.
The Government Crackdown and Narrative
The internet blackout provided cover for the government to arrest many individuals allegedly connected to the violence during the protests. Law enforcement agencies have arrested 1,427 people across the country over the last three days in connection with the recent violence.
Of these, 692 were held in the capital alone, with the rest in 16 districts. Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Habibur Rahman stated that block raids were being conducted to arrest suspects, with around 50 cases filed accusing 20,000 unidentified individuals of violence.
Many of those arrested were opposition leaders, including members of the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami. They have been accused of various charges, including attacking law enforcers, damaging state properties, and planning and financing attacks. The government has used these arrests to further its narrative that the violence was orchestrated by opposition parties, thus justifying the crackdown and internet shutdown.
A recent investigation by DW News uncovered a startling development: vehicles marked with United Nations (UN) insignia were deployed in the crackdown on student protests. The UN has condemned the violence against the protesters, calling it shocking and unacceptable. Footage monitored by DW’s investigative unit clearly shows these UN-marked armored personnel vehicles being used against the demonstrators.
It is crucial to note that these vehicles were not sent by the UN to Bangladesh for this purpose. Instead, Bangladesh, a significant contributor to UN peacekeeping missions, has these vehicles in its stock.
As the third-largest contributor to UN peace missions, Bangladesh supplies not only troops but also equipment, including these vehicles. During a recent investigation in Bangladesh, DW News filmed numerous such vehicles with UN insignia on a UN training ground near the capital, Dhaka.
The presence of these UN-marked vehicles on the streets of Dhaka during such a brutal crackdown raises serious concerns. The UN has stated that its insignia and equipment should only be used for mandated UN peacekeeping or political missions. The UN spokesperson emphasized that the use of these vehicles in the protests is a misuse of UN resources.
The situation is further complicated by Bangladesh's significant role in UN peacekeeping missions. Human rights groups have criticized Bangladesh for its poor human rights record and have called for its exclusion from UN missions. However, the UN has been cautious in openly criticizing Bangladesh due to its crucial contribution to UN peacekeeping operations. In previous instances, when allegations of human rights abuses by Bangladeshi peacekeepers surfaced, the UN promised to investigate but took no substantial action.
This scenario puts the UN in a difficult position. While human rights groups hope for consequences for Bangladesh, the UN faces the risk of losing a major troop contributor if it pushes too hard. Bangladesh has previously hinted at withdrawing its troops if subjected to excessive criticism from the UN.
Despite clear evidence of the internet shutdown, the government has repeatedly denied any involvement. Officials have attributed the disruption to technical issues, such as a fire at the Department of Disaster Management in Mohakhali, which allegedly damaged internet transmission lines.
However, multiple industry players and external sources have confirmed that the blackout was a deliberate act by the government, aimed at controlling the flow of information and suppressing the protests.
State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat blamed the opposition BNP-Jamaat activists for the torched data center, claiming they aimed to disconnect the country from the rest of the world. This explanation conveniently portrays the internet blackout as a reaction to sabotage rather than a deliberate strategy to stifle dissent.
A Call to Action
Bangladesh serves as a reminder of how technology can be used by governments to suppress dissent and control information. The internet, once a symbol of freedom, can be turned into a tool of oppression and silencing opposition. The internet shutdown, the arrests, the violence—all these events reflect a government desperate to maintain control, regardless of the cost to its citizens.
I urge the international community to pay attention to the situation in Bangladesh. The continued internet shutdown and state repression cannot go unnoticed.
International bodies and human rights organizations must pressure the Bangladeshi government to restore internet access, ensure the safety of protesters, and hold those responsible for the violence accountable.
For those of us living abroad, it is essential to raise awareness about what is happening in Bangladesh. By sharing information, writing to our representatives, and participating in advocacy efforts, we can help bring attention to the plight of the Bangladeshi people and push for meaningful change. It is our duty to stand in solidarity with our fellow citizens and work towards a future where freedom and democracy are respected and upheld.
The Way Forward
The government's decision to shut down the internet amid student protests highlights the lengths it will go to maintain control and suppress dissent. Despite their attempts to spin a different narrative, the truth has come to light through the efforts of brave journalists and independent sources. As the situation unfolds, it is crucial for the global community to stand in solidarity with the people of Bangladesh and advocate for their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful protest.
In a time when technology should be empowering citizens, its use as a tool of oppression in Bangladesh serves as a cautionary tale for the rest of the world. The international community must act to ensure that the internet remains a space for free expression and democracy, not a weapon for state repression.
The road ahead will not be easy, but it is crucial for the people of Bangladesh to remain resilient and continue to fight for their rights. The international community must stand with them, providing support and holding the government accountable for its actions. Together, we can work towards a future where the internet is a tool for empowerment, not oppression, and where the rights of all citizens are respected and protected.
