Summary:
-
Nationwide Internet Blackout: Bangladesh has imposed a “near-total” internet shutdown to control student protests against the quota system for government jobs, which reserves a third of jobs for veterans’ relatives.
-
Underlying Issues: The protests highlight deep political divisions dating back to the 1971 independence war and are fueled by high youth unemployment, economic woes, and inflation.
-
Recurring Strategy: This shutdown follows a pattern of internet blackouts used to suppress political opposition, with Bangladesh being one of the top perpetrators of internet shutdowns in recent years.
!