Posts, Telecommunication and Information Technology Adviser Md Nahid Islam yesterday said internet was not shut down by the government in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) during Friday’s violence in Khagrachhari and Rangamati.
Countries that prioritise Information and Communication Technology (ICT) have each chosen distinct positions for themselves.
Given that fundamental rights are the default and restrictions are exceptions, internet shutdowns are, by nature, unlawful.
Broadband internet service was restored in Bangladesh, but without access to social media services, around 1:20pm today, said an official of International Internet Gateway (IIF), which supplies bandwidth to broadband service providers
Facebook and WhatsApp, two widely used social media platforms, are reportedly inaccessible in Bangladesh as of today.
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The recent shutdown has significantly impacted Bangladesh's economy with over $10 billion and climbing in estimated losses, according to the Foreign Investors Chamber of Commerce & Industries (FICCI)
It represents a grave threat to democracy and human rights that demands urgent attention.
Government officials and mobile network operators will meet today to discuss restoring mobile internet, which has been switched off by the government for almost 10 days now.
Bangladesh’s burgeoning online food delivery sector has been severely hit by the internet disruptions, bringing operations of the platforms to a near halt.
UN experts on Thursday called upon Bangladesh government to immediately ensure accountability for human rights violations, end the violent crackdown against protesters and political opponents, and to fully restore people’s access to the internet and social media.
While the micro and messo levels of losses are immediate and short term, macro level losses would be medium to long term.
Nearly all multiplex and single-screen cinemas, including Star Cineplex and Lion Cinemas, have been closed for over a week due to the national crisis.
Around 33 production houses in Bangladesh produce dramas specifically for their YouTube channels, with clips often being shared on Facebook.
Internet shutdown is one of the major aspects of control that the Awami League government has exercised to curb the protests.
