Bangladesh Is Experiencing a 'Near-Total' Internet Shutdown Amid Student Protests

Bangladesh is experiencing a "near-total" nationwide internet shutdown amid government efforts to control widespread student protests against the country's quota system for government jobs. The country's quota system requires a third of government jobs be reserved for relatives of veterans who had fought for independence from Pakistan.

According to Reuters, the protests "have opened old and sensitive political fault lines between those who fought for Bangladesh's independence from Pakistan in 1971 and those accused of collaborating with Islamabad." Analysts say the protests have also been "fueled by high unemployment among young people" and "wider economic woes, such as high inflation and shrinking reserves of foreign exchange." Engadget reports on the internet disruptions: To control the situation, Bangladeshi authorities shut down internet and phone access throughout the country, a common practice in South Asia to prevent the spread of rumors and misinformation and exercise state control. NetBlocks, a global internet monitor that works on digital rights analyzed live network data that showed that Bangladesh was in the middle of a "near-total national internet shutdown." [...]

Bangladesh has frequently blacked out the internet to crack down on political opposition and activists. At the end of 2023, research tool CIVICUS Monitor, which provides data on the state of civil society and freedoms in nearly 200 countries, downgraded Bangladesh's civic space to "closed," its lowest possible rating, after the country imposed six internet shutdowns the previous year. That made Bangladesh the fifth-largest perpetrator of internet shutdowns in 2022, Access Now said.

The country's telecom regulator had pledged to keep internet access on through Bangladesh's general elections at the beginning of 2024, but that electoral period is now over. Despite the pledge, Bangladesh blocked access to news websites during its elections.

Why not vote the government out?

[oumuamua]

Seems they ran a sham election in 2024

In the lead-up to the election, the incumbent government led by Sheikh Hasina cracked down on opposition parties and silenced critics of the government.[11][12][13] Hasina's prime ministership has been described as authoritarian since being re-elected in 2008,[14][15][16][17] and in 2011 removed the requirement that a temporary independent caretaker government be formed to hold elections.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/... [wikipedia.org]

Encrypted FOSS Mesh Networks

[Qbertino]

They should be a thing of regular people too. If only as a quick fallback when governments go tyrannical and try to pull some dick move on their people.

Re:

[tlhIngan]

They should be a thing of regular people too. If only as a quick fallback when governments go tyrannical and try to pull some dick move on their people.

Meshtastic uses LoRa (proprietary RF network able to go miles) and does exactly that. Devices can be had for $40 or so. Of course, the country can simply ban their import of the devices.

Stay strong

[mcnewman]

It's so sad to hear about the internet shutdown in Bangladesh. I remember when I was struggling with my SPSS assignments last semester, and how vital the internet was for my research. Without it, I would've been completely lost. I found this great resource https://essays.edubirdie.com/spss-assignment-help [edubirdie.com], which was a lifesaver for me. I can't imagine students in Bangladesh trying to get through their studies without online access. Stay strong, everyone!