'It was probably not a great idea,' says Cultural Affairs Adviser Farooki
The interim government of Bangladesh has reversed its earlier decision to implement a symbolic one-minute internet blackout on July 18 as part of the July Commemoration programme, following swift and widespread criticism of the decision on social media.
Initially intended as a symbolic gesture, the proposal faced immediate backlash from citizens who questioned its necessity and raised concerns about freedom of expression and digital rights. Culture Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki addressed these concerns in a Facebook post on Thursday morning.
He acknowledged that "the idea of a 'One-Minute Internet Blackout' was probably not a great idea" but explained that it was included in the programme after various discussions. Farooki also thanked citizens for their feedback, indicating that public discourse influenced the government's decision to cancel the blackout.
Contradictions in government policy
This U-turn highlights inconsistency in the government's digital policy statements. On February 25, Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said on his verified Facebook account that Elon Musk's Starlink was introduced in Bangladesh primarily to prevent internet shutdowns, described as a "favourite tool of dictators".
Shafiqul noted the economic damage caused by shutdowns, especially to the country's growing freelance and digital workforce.
On May 6, Law Adviser Asif Nazrul underlined the government's progressive stance by announcing the formal recognition of internet access as a fundamental right through amendments to the Cyber Security Act and new ordinances.
Against this backdrop, the initial decision to impose a symbolic internet blackout stood in stark contrast to these commitments, causing many netizens to question the coherence and consistency of the government's approach.
Legal context
Sabhanaz Rashid Diya, executive director of Tech Global Institute and visiting fellow at the University of Oxford, expressed strong concerns about the initial decision. She pointed out that the internet shutdown contradicted the law, human rights, and the spirit of the July Movement.
She cited three provisions in the Bangladesh Constitution
- Bangladesh's Constitution restricts freedom of expression only when public order or national security is threatened (Article 39).
- The Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Act and the Code of Criminal Procedure provide procedural safeguards.
- The recent Cyber Security Ordinance guarantees unrestricted internet access.
Sabhanaz said none of these legal justifications applied to the proposed blackout, making it a clear violation. She further stressed that restricting internet access undermines the July uprising and sets a dangerous precedent, allowing governments to shut down the internet arbitrarily without safeguards.
The original blackout
The government's initial proposal may have aimed to mark the July Commemoration with a symbolic act. However, it underestimated the population's reliance on digital connectivity and sensitivity to internet restrictions.
During the July Uprising of 2024, Bangladesh faced nationwide internet blackouts triggered by student protests against the government job quota system and the violence unleashed by the state on protesters. The first shutdown began on July 18 and lasted until July 28, with social media restrictions extending even longer. During this time, Bangladesh went largely dark to the outside world. Hundreds of protesters were killed, and news of such atrocities mostly remained within the country.
A second, brief blackout occurred around noon on August 5 but was lifted following former prime minister Sheikh Hasina's resignation on August 5. These shutdowns disrupted communication, banking, and business, drawing widespread criticism for violating fundamental rights nationwide.
By cancelling the blackout, the government avoided immediate backlash. The development highlights the ongoing tension between symbolic political gestures and the realities of digital freedom in an interconnected society, and the growing power of public opinion expressed through digital platforms.
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