Mobile internet and social media disrupted in Bangladesh amid student protests

Authorities in Bangladesh have reportedly ordered a nationwide shutdown of mobile internet networks amid student protests that killed at least six people and injured hundreds.

The country's junior telecommunications minister, Zunaid Ahmed Palak, told AFP news agency that internet outages were necessary to "ensure the security of citizens."

Traffic data analyzed by internet monitoring service NetBlocks shows that mobile internet has been limited in Bangladesh, likely to limit “the public's ability to stay informed amidst student protests,” researchers said.

⚠️ Update: Traffic data show mobile internet has now been limited in #Bangladesh as authorities issue a cellular data shutdown; the incident follows days of social media restrictions and is likely to limit the public's ability to stay informed amidst student protests 📵 pic.twitter.com/fs8yeY55QO

— NetBlocks (@netblocks) July 18, 2024

Bangladeshi students, organized in part through social media apps, have been demonstrating for weeks against a quota system for government jobs, which they say favors allies of the ruling party.

The protests turned violent this week following clashes among protesters, police and pro-government activists. Students were armed with sticks and rocks, while the police fired rubber bullets and tear gas.

According to a report by Al Jazeera, the mobile internet in Bangladesh was suspended “temporarily.” The disruption was caused by “various rumors” and the “unstable situation created” on social media, the agency reported, citing Palak. Services would be restored once the situation returned to normal, he said.

According to local media reports, mobile connectivity was “severely disrupted” in the capital city of Dhaka and countrywide for over 24 hours. Most Bangladeshi citizens use the internet on mobile phones.

Earlier this week, Palak blamed social media for spreading disinformation about the protest. “Students should not become intolerant by being misled by any wrong information, rumors, or propaganda on social media,” he said.

Earlier in February, Chad suffered internet and telecom disruptions amid a deadly attack on the country’s internal security agency. The government of Senegal shut off mobile internet across the country following the arrest of the country’s opposition leader last August.