Bangladesh Imposes Second Internet Blackout Amid Escalating Protests

Dhaka, August 5, 2024: Bangladesh has enacted a second nationwide internet blackout in three weeks as anti-government protests intensify, resulting in at least 90 deaths and hundreds of injuries. The protests, which began with student-led demands to abolish civil service job quotas, have escalated into a broader anti-government movement seeking the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Protesters have clashed with police and military units deployed across Dhaka and other cities, blocking entrances and setting up barricades. The government has declared a three-day holiday, closing businesses and courts in an effort to manage the unrest.

The violence has claimed at least 280 lives to date, with security forces accused of responding with excessive force. On Sunday, thirteen police officers were killed in an attack on a police station in Sirajganj. Both police and ruling party supporters have used live ammunition, tear gas, and rubber bullets against demonstrators.

In response to the unrest, mobile operators have been ordered to shut down 4G services, leading to a near-total internet blackout, according to NetBlocks, a watchdog monitoring internet freedom. This follows a partial restoration of services after an initial shutdown on July 18.

Despite an indefinite curfew imposed on Sunday, protests continue, with thousands marching in Dhaka’s Uttara suburb, setting vehicles ablaze and chanting for Hasina’s resignation. Asif Mahmud, a key figure in the civil disobedience campaign, has called for a final protest and a shutdown of factories and public transport.

The government has faced criticism for its handling of the situation. Law and Justice Minister Anisul Huq defended the authorities’ actions as restrained, while former military chief General Karim Bhuiyan criticized the use of force and called for the withdrawal of armed forces from the streets. Prime Minister Hasina has dismissed the protesters as destabilizers but has offered unconditional dialogue, which the protesters have rejected. The unrest follows recent reductions to the controversial quota system following a Supreme Court ruling.