#Bangladesh #InternetShutdown #StudentProtests #QuotaReform #SocialUnrest #JobInsecurity #FreedomFighters #NetBlocks
Bangladesh is currently embroiled in a deep state of social unrest, which has escalated into large-scale protests led by university students. The heart of the discontent lies in the growing concerns over inequality, poverty, and the pressing lack of job security. These protests have notably intensified this week, compelling the Bangladeshi government to implement a nationwide internet shutdown. This drastic measure was justified by the country’s junior telecommunications minister, Zunaid Ahmed Palak, who communicated to AFP News that the shutdown was initiated to “ensure the security of citizens.”
The imposition of the internet blockade was reported by the internet observatory Netblocks, which described Bangladesh as experiencing a “near-total national internet shutdown.” This step extends beyond previous actions taken to limit social unrest, including throttling social media and restricting mobile data services. The decision to cut internet access comes in the wake of escalating violence at student protests, including rising death tolls. According to Al Jazeera English, the student-led protests were initially sparked by a demand to remove quotas in government jobs—a system that, following a High Court ruling in June, reserves 56 percent of government positions for specific groups, including descendants of freedom fighters, women, and people from “backward districts.”
These demonstrations have not only led to clashes between students, police, and the Bangladesh Chhatra League—a student wing of the political party in power—but have also reportedly resulted in six deaths and hundreds of injuries. Students, who are generally above the working class, are driven by a desperation to secure stable, good-quality jobs, underscoring the larger issues of job scarcity and economic disparity in Bangladesh. Furthermore, the social turmoil has affected various sectors, including those outside of Bangladesh, hinting at potential disruptions in services that rely on call centers within the country. Amidst the crackdown on protests and communications, there’s an undercurrent of concern regarding freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly in Bangladesh, echoing the broader challenges of governance and civil liberties in the region.
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