THE government coming to have shut down internet services for days is unacceptable and dangerous, especially in a violent situation of quota reforms protests. It is unacceptable as the shutdown hinders the free flow of information and denies people their right to information. It is dangerous because the shutdown creates scope for misinformation and misleading action and reaction. The state minister for posts, telecommunications and information technology announced the temporary shutdown of mobile internet services on July 17, a day after the government鈥檚 intransigence forced the protests into a violent stage. The government also shut down broadband internet services, too, on July 18 after the building that houses the operation centres of several international internet gateway service providers, data centres and interconnection exchanges was set on fire. As a result, people lost lost access to internet services which has hindered not only the free flow of information, but also disrupted economic and other activities. The Editors鈥� Council in a statement on July 19 expressed deep concern about the total internet blackout, saying that such a blackout may create an information blackout, giving scope for a rise in misinformation and disinformation, which is undesirable and dangerous.
When people have had no access to mobile internet since early July 17, protesting students in universities faced difficulties in accessing mobile internet since July 16, when they came under attack for the second consecutive day by armed Chhatra League activists and the law enforcement agencies. Students alleged that the internet shutdown was no attempt to bring stability but to help the law enforcement agencies and the Chhatra League to contain the protest. As for shutdown of broadband internet services on July 18, after at least 29 people having died that day mostly in police firing, there are speculations that the government has intentionally shut down the services to contain the nationwide protests, without success though, as more than two dozen people died in clashes on July 19. The speculation is there as a similar fire happened a day before the Bangladesh Nationalist Party rally that was foiled on October 28, 2023, causing a shutdown of internet services. That time, the government also came under criticism for its failure to ensure safety and security of such an important building. It was also criticised for allowing so many IIG operators to run their operations from one building.
The government must realise that a free flow of information is what can help contain the spread of misinformation. The authorities must, therefore, restore mobile and broadband internet services immediately and ensure the free flow of information and people鈥檚 right to information. The government must also take measures so that fire in one building does not stop internet services.