From Digital Blackout to Digital Freedom: Remembering Bangladesh's July Uprising Two Years On

The calendar marked the first week of August, but for millions of Bangladeshis, it was still the symbolic "36th of July"—a period remembered for its nationwide protests, internet blackouts, and a struggle over access to information.

On the second anniversary of the July Uprising, the events of 2024 continue to be recalled as one of the country's most significant episodes of political unrest, during which widespread internet restrictions coincided with mass demonstrations across Bangladesh.

From Quota Reform to Nationwide Protests

What began on July 1, 2024, as a student-led movement demanding reforms to the government job quota system rapidly evolved into a broader anti-government protest movement.

On July 17, mobile 4G internet services were suspended, disrupting live streaming and online communication.

The following day, July 18, Bangladesh entered one of the most extensive internet shutdowns in its history. International bandwidth supplied through submarine cables and terrestrial links was interrupted, leaving the country largely disconnected from the global internet for nearly five days—from July 18 to July 23.

Timeline of the Internet Shutdown

• July 17: 4G mobile internet suspended.
• July 18–23: Nationwide internet blackout affecting both broadband and mobile services.
• July 24–27: Limited broadband restored, while social media platforms remained restricted.
• July 28: Mobile internet resumed, but Meta services and cache servers remained blocked.
• August 4: Mobile internet suspended again.
• August 5: Full internet access restored at approximately 1:15 p.m.

Conflicting Explanations for the Shutdown

At the time, authorities cited a fire at the Mohakhali Data Center as the reason for the disruption.

Subsequent investigations and testimony presented before Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal, however, alleged that internet bandwidth had been deliberately suspended following directives issued through the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to International Internet Gateways (IIGs) and International Terrestrial Cable (ITC) operators. According to those accounts, the data center fire was not the primary cause of the nationwide outage.

The report further claims that authorities also sought to restrict VPN services, including Proton VPN and NordVPN, in an effort to limit alternative access to online information.

Citizen Journalism During the Blackout

Despite extensive digital restrictions, protesters continued sharing information through alternative means.

Red profile pictures on Facebook, graffiti, and videos documenting events spread widely after connectivity gradually returned. With parts of the mainstream media operating under heavy restrictions, platforms such as YouTube and personal social media accounts became important channels for citizen journalism.

Recent documentaries released on the uprising's second anniversary describe how protesters reportedly relied on offline messaging applications and limited peer-to-peer communication methods to exchange information and document developments on the ground.

Economic Impact and Alternative Technologies

The internet shutdown also had major economic consequences.

According to NetBlocks and the Internet Society (ISOC), Bangladesh's economy lost an estimated BDT 10 billion (approximately US$85 million) per day during the five-day nationwide blackout.

Freelancers, outsourcing firms, Facebook-based businesses, and other digital enterprises were among the sectors most affected, with many professionals reportedly losing work due to disrupted communication with international clients.

During the shutdown, users turned to alternative technologies:

• VPN usage surged, with reports indicating that the use of services such as ExpressVPN and NordVPN increased by roughly 5,000%.
• Bridgefy, which enables Bluetooth-based peer-to-peer messaging, was reportedly used for offline communication.
• Protest organizers also relied on encrypted messaging platforms, including Telegram, WhatsApp, and Signal, when connectivity allowed.

Online Campaigns and Street Protests

Although internet speeds were reportedly throttled to 2G levels at times, videos documenting the protests and clashes with security forces continued to circulate online.

Hashtags including #QuotaReformProtest and #StepDownHasina gained international attention as demonstrations intensified.

On August 3, coordinators of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement announced a one-point demand at the Central Shaheed Minar calling for the government's resignation.

Two days later, on August 5, hundreds of thousands of demonstrators joined the "March to Dhaka" campaign.

According to the United Nations, approximately 1,400 people were killed and more than 20,000 others were injured during the unrest.

August 5: A Historic Turning Point

Although mobile internet services were suspended once again early on August 5, massive crowds continued to gather in Dhaka.

Later that day, Sheikh Hasina resigned and departed Bangladesh by military helicopter for India.

At approximately 1:15 p.m., internet and social media restrictions were lifted.

According to industry sources, internet traffic surged immediately after the military chief's televised address, with national bandwidth usage reportedly reaching a record 4,600 Gbps.

Internet Freedom After the Uprising

The article states that legal and policy reforms introduced under Bangladesh's interim government following the uprising include:

• Declaring arbitrary government-imposed internet shutdowns a punishable violation of citizens' rights.
• Expanding internet infrastructure beyond traditional cable networks by approving policies for satellite internet services, including Starlink.
• Increasing international bandwidth capacity to more than 4.5 Tbps by August 2026.
• Introducing stricter safeguards against unlawful surveillance of citizens' communications.

The article concludes that the events of July and August 2024 demonstrated that shutting down networks and communications infrastructure could not permanently suppress public demands for information and political expression.

It also pays tribute to those who lost their lives during the unrest, describing their sacrifices as instrumental in shaping a new era of digital freedom in Bangladesh.

//DBTech/SMI/MSI/OR//