The internet has been shut down and mobile services severely disrupted in Bangladesh amid student protests that began earlier this week.
The disruptions do not appear to be connected to the global internet outage that is taking place on Friday. But, equally, it is not clear whether the government is attempting to silence critics and prevent organization of anti-regime protests or whether the outages are a consequence of ongoing violence and attacks on infrastructure.
The unrest centers on demands to end a quota system reserving up to 30% of government jobs for relatives of 1971 independence war veterans. Protesters argue the system is discriminatory and instead seek a merit-based alternative.
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Associated Press says that there have been 28 deaths in the country during the protests, citing local media reports. Several prominent members of the arts community in Bangladesh changed their display pictures to black in commiseration of the deaths.
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Variety managed to get through to one such person who, on condition of anonymity, confirmed the internet outage, describing it as a “total shutdown” “Things are really turning bad,” the person said. The deaths are at 32, the person said, adding that the movement is now a “people’s protest” against attempted suppression by the government and the police.
The digital blackout followed Thursday’s intensification of violence, with students attempting to impose a “complete shutdown” on the country. Protesters reportedly attacked the headquarters of state-run Bangladesh Television, damaging property and setting fire to vehicles, per AP.
A BTV news producer, speaking anonymously to AP, described escaping over a wall as attackers breached the main gate and set furniture ablaze. While the station reportedly continued broadcasting, some Dhaka residents reported signal loss.
By Friday morning, internet services and mobile data appeared non-functional in Dhaka, with social media platforms inaccessible. Student protesters announced plans to extend their shutdown call and urged nationwide funeral prayers for the deceased.
On Friday afternoon, an AP reporter witnessed border guard officials opening fire on a crowd of over 1,000 protesters gathered outside the headquarters of Bangladesh Television. The confrontation saw border guards using rifles and sound grenades against the assembled crowd, while police officers deployed tear gas and rubber bullets.
“Bangladesh is seeing probably the biggest, widest and most spontaneous movement ever since the country got independence,” a well-known media figure told Variety on condition of anonymity. “There is no apparent big leadership organizing this. Although the movement started with the demand for quota reform, but deep town there are a lot of layers and nuances. People have had frustration for quite some time now regarding economic disparity, corruption, climate of fear and very controlled situation as far as freedom of expression is concerned.”
The protests have become the most significant unrest since Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s re-election in January. Hasina’s government had previously halted the quotas following 2018 protests, but a recent High Court decision reinstated them, sparking the current demonstrations. The Supreme Court has suspended this ruling pending an appeal hearing scheduled for Sunday.
