Bangladesh has imposed a total internet shutdown as the government attempts to quell widespread student protests that have left at least 32 people dead. The protests, which began in Dhaka, the capital, have spread throughout the country, with thousands of demonstrators calling for an end to the country’s quota system.
The quota system, which requires a third of government jobs to be reserved for relatives of veterans who fought for Bangladesh’s independence from Pakistan in 1971, has been a long-standing source of tension in the country. On Thursday, the protests turned violent, with rioters setting fire to offices and government buildings, trapping many people inside. The clashes with police left 17 people dead.
In an effort to restore order, the Bangladeshi authorities shut down internet and phone access throughout the country. This is not the first time that the government has taken such action, as Bangladesh has a history of imposing internet shutdowns to control the spread of information and maintain state control.
According to NetBlocks, a global internet monitor, Bangladesh was in the midst of a “near-total national internet shutdown” as the government struggled to contain the protests. The country has been ranked as one of the world’s worst perpetrators of internet shutdowns, with research tool CIVICUS Monitor rating Bangladesh’s civic space as “closed” in 2023.
Despite a pledge by the country’s telecom regulator to keep internet access on during the general elections in 2024, Bangladesh has a history of restricting internet access, including during elections.
