Bangladesh Imposes Nationwide Ban on Social Media Platforms

On Friday, the government of Bangladesh imposed a sweeping ban on several major social media and communication platforms, according to media reports. This ban affects popular services Instagram and TikTok, YouTube. Access to these widely-used apps is now restricted throughout the country.

In addition to the broader social media ban, Bangladesh has specifically restricted access to Facebook on mobile networks. Russian messaging platform Telegram has also been blocked on mobile connections, as reported by Daily Bangladesh. This follows an earlier shutdown of Meta’s platforms, including Facebook, Messenger, WhatsApp, and Instagram, from July 17 to July 31. That shutdown was in response to unrest related to quota reform protests.

Sources cited by Daily Bangladesh reported that access to Meta’s platforms via mobile networks was cut off around 12:15 PM on Friday. The restrictions appear to be limited to mobile data connections, unlike the more comprehensive shutdown imposed earlier.

Internet speeds in the country had reportedly returned to normal levels on Thursday night.

Impact on Over 120 Million Mobile Network Users

With over 120 million mobile network users in Bangladesh, the restriction on Facebook is likely to lead to increased use of VPNs, which could impact overall Internet speeds.

This latest move follows a series of Internet restrictions in July. The government initially disabled mobile Internet on July 17, followed by a broadband shutdown on July 18. Broadband services were partially restored after five days, on July 23, while mobile networks remained offline for ten days before being reactivated on July 28.

In mid-July, student demonstrations spread across various regions of Bangladesh, prompting the government to suspend Internet services nationwide. This announcement, made on July 18, sent shockwaves through the refugee communities residing in Cox’s Bazar, who viewed the impending Internet shutdown as a potential crisis, according to a report by Benar News.

The situation remains fluid as the government continues to address the ongoing unrest and manage Internet access across the country.

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