Bangladesh has plunged into an unprecedented communications blackout as the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina grapples with widespread student protests demanding the abolition of the quota system in government jobs. The crackdown, which began with throttling mobile internet speeds, has escalated to a complete shutdown of mobile and broadband internet services, isolating the country from the rest of the world.
The government’s move to halt all forms of digital communication, leaving only mobile and landline telephones operational, has sparked international concern and left millions of Bangladeshi expatriates unable to contact their relatives. Since Thursday evening, there have been no updates on the websites or social media pages of major Bangladeshi newspapers or electronic media outlets.
The protests have turned deadly, with 19 reported fatalities amid clashes between students and security forces. However, some sources claim the death toll is much higher. The unrest reached a critical point on Thursday afternoon when protesters attacked the national television broadcaster, Bangladesh Television (BTV), in Rampura, Dhaka. Employees fled, and BTV has since ceased broadcasting.
In an alarming development, hackers targeted several high-profile websites, including those of the Bangladesh Police, the ruling Awami League’s student wing (Chhatra League), and even the Prime Minister’s Office. This cyber-assault has further destabilized the government’s control over the flow of information.
Sheikh Hasina’s administration, which has remained relatively unchallenged since winning the December 2008 elections, is now facing its most significant crisis. Political analysts suggest that the anti-quota movement has evolved into a broader anti-government uprising, threatening Hasina’s grip on power.
The 12th National Parliament election, held on January 7, was boycotted by major opposition parties, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which demanded a caretaker government. The BNP has been largely inactive on the streets since their rally in Dhaka’s Nayapaltan was disrupted last October. Nonetheless, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has expressed full support for the student protests, despite the party’s non-involvement in organizing the movement.
The BNP’s leader, former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, is currently gravely ill, while her son and the party’s acting chairperson, Tariq Rahman, leads from exile in the UK. Rahman, who faces multiple convictions in Bangladesh, has accused Sheikh Hasina of committing atrocities to quash the protests.
The current crisis has drawn the attention of the international community, keenly observing how Sheikh Hasina will navigate these turbulent waters. With the country’s communication channels severed and increasing reports of violence, the situation in Bangladesh remains precarious and opaque.
As the blackout persists, the lack of reliable information from within Bangladesh continues to fuel uncertainty and speculation. The world watches closely, awaiting developments that will determine the future of Sheikh Hasina’s administration and the nation’s political landscape.
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