The Real Cause Behind Bangladesh’s Internet Blackout: A Technologically Orchestrated Shutdown

In July 2024, Bangladesh witnessed an unprecedented internet blackout, plunging millions of users into digital darkness. Initially, the government, led by former state minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak, attributed the outage to fires at key data centers allegedly set ablaze by violent protesters. However, recent investigations have unveiled a more deliberate effort orchestrated by the government to suppress communication. This article will explore the technical mechanisms behind the shutdown, debunk the false narrative, and examine its broader implications for Bangladesh’s digital infrastructure and economy.

Bangladesh’s Internet Infrastructure: A Brief Overview:
To comprehend the extent and impact of the blackout, it is essential to grasp the foundational elements of Bangladesh’s internet infrastructure. The country’s digital ecosystem is supported by a network of Internet Service Providers (ISPs), data centers, submarine and terrestrial fiber optic cables, and regulatory bodies.

Bangladesh’s internet infrastructure is complex and deeply reliant on several key components:

1. Submarine Cables: The country’s primary connection to the global internet is through submarine cables such as the SEA-ME-WE (South East Asia-Middle East-Western Europe) cables. These undersea cables handle most of the international internet traffic, serving as the backbone for data transfer to and from Bangladesh.

2. International Terrestrial Cables (ITCs): In addition to submarine cables, ITCs connect Bangladesh with neighboring countries like India, providing supplemental routes for international data traffic.
3. International Internet Gateways (IIGs): IIGs manage the exchange of international data with local Internet Service Providers (ISPs), acting as the middlemen for global internet traffic entering and leaving the country.

4. Content Delivery Networks (CDNs): CDNs are networks of globally distributed servers that deliver content (websites, apps, and media) to users more efficiently by caching data closer to end-users. This ensures that high-traffic platforms, like social media and streaming services, perform optimally.

5. Internet Service Providers (ISPs): Bangladesh hosts several major ISPs, including Grameen Telecom, Robi Axiata, and Banglalink. These providers manage the majority of mobile and broadband internet services, ensuring connectivity across urban and rural areas.

6. Data Centers: Data centers in Bangladesh, particularly those in the Mohakhali area of Dhaka, serve as critical hubs for data storage, processing, and distribution. Facilities like the Khawaja Tower are pivotal in maintaining the flow of digital information within the country.

7. Regulatory Bodies: The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) oversees the management and regulation of telecommunications. Additionally, the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC) operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs, playing a significant role in monitoring and controlling internet traffic.

8. Nationwide Telecommunication Transmission Network (NTTN) Fiber Optic Networks: The backbone of Bangladesh’s internet connectivity lies in its extensive fiber optic network. Thousands of kilometers of fiber cables traverse the country, facilitating high-speed data transmission between cities and international gateways.

The Government's Role in the Blackout:
On July 17, 2024, amid ongoing protests against a controversial jobs quota system, Palak verbally ordered the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to implement an internet shutdown. The blackout was not caused by infrastructure damage, as initially claimed, but rather a strategic move to curtail the communication capabilities of the protesters.

Blocking Bandwidth via Submarine Cable and ITC Operators:
Submarine cable operators were instructed to limit the bandwidth available to local ISPs, effectively cutting Bangladesh’s connection to the global internet. Since the majority of Bangladesh’s international internet traffic passes through these cables, blocking bandwidth at this level caused significant disruptions in both urban and rural areas.

ITC operators, who provide supplementary connectivity via terrestrial links, were similarly ordered to restrict bandwidth, further exacerbating the blackout. By manipulating the bandwidth flow at these critical junctions, the government was able to throttle international internet access.

Limiting Access through International Internet Gateways (IIGs):
In addition to blocking bandwidth at the submarine cable level, the government instructed IIGs to cut internet access. IIGs control the flow of data between Bangladesh’s internet and the global network. By directing IIGs to restrict international access, the government could limit access to popular websites and platforms hosted outside the country. This included shutting down access to major platforms such as Google, Facebook, and WhatsApp.

Blocking access at this level had a profound impact on the country's ability to connect to global platforms, further isolating Bangladesh from the digital world.
Strategic Blocking of Content Delivery Networks (CDNs):
Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) play a pivotal role in delivering data from high-traffic websites and applications. By instructing operators to block CDNs, the government ensured that users couldn’t access large global platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. These platforms were widely used by protesters to coordinate their efforts and communicate with one another.

Blocking CDNs essentially meant that even if some users had limited access to the internet, they would still experience significant delays or total inaccessibility when attempting to use these key platforms. This move, combined with bandwidth throttling, made the internet practically unusable for the average citizen during the blackout.

The False Narrative: Blaming Data Center Fires:
To justify the blackout, the government initially claimed that violent protesters had attacked key data centers, including the Mohakhali Relief Rehabilitation Centre. According to Palak, these fires caused extensive damage to fiber-optic cables, leading to the internet outages.

Palak’s narrative asserted that hundreds of kilometers of fiber-optic cables were damaged, and data centers were destroyed. This was designed to deflect responsibility and place the blame on the protesters. However, an independent investigation found no evidence that these fires had a significant impact on the country’s internet infrastructure.

The investigation revealed that the fires were either minimal or unrelated to the blackout. Instead, the government’s actions—issuing direct orders to submarine cable operators, IIGs, and ITCs—were responsible for the deliberate shutdown of internet services across the country.
Technical Mechanisms Behind the Blackout:
The blackout was carried out using several advanced technical tools and protocols designed to disrupt the country’s digital infrastructure:

1. Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) Manipulation: BGP is responsible for routing traffic between autonomous systems across the internet. By manipulating BGP announcements, the government could alter routing tables and block data from entering or exiting Bangladesh, essentially isolating the country’s internet from the global network.

2. DNS Filtering and DNS Poisoning: The Domain Name System (DNS) is responsible for translating domain names into IP addresses. The government employed DNS filtering to block access to specific websites by preventing DNS servers from resolving the domain names of platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram. This method was crucial in blocking access to communication platforms used by protesters.

3. Deep Packet Inspection (DPI): DPI allows for the examination of internet traffic at a granular level, identifying specific types of data packets. By deploying DPI, the government could selectively block or throttle communication on specific platforms, such as messaging apps, without completely shutting down other services. DPI played a significant role in controlling the flow of information during the protests.

4. CDN Blocking: Blocking CDNs was a critical part of the blackout strategy. Since CDNs cache content closer to users, blocking them disrupted access to major platforms that rely on them for fast and efficient content delivery. This blockage, in conjunction with bandwidth throttling, crippled Bangladesh’s ability to access international services.
Economic Impact of the Blackout:
The blackout had a profound effect on Bangladesh’s economy, particularly its ICT sector. Bangladesh’s ICT sector contributes around 1.28 percent to the country’s GDP and generates approximately 1.4 billion dollars annually in export revenue. The prolonged shutdown caused millions of dollars in losses, particularly for companies involved in software development, e-commerce, and IT services.

E-commerce platforms experienced sharp declines in activity, and online businesses faced significant delays in project completion. Moreover, the blackout damaged Bangladesh’s reputation as a reliable partner in the global digital economy, with many foreign clients expressing concerns about the country’s ability to maintain stable internet services.

The shutdown also disrupted access to essential digital services, such as online banking, telehealth, and education platforms. For millions of Bangladeshis, the blackout severely affected daily life, as digital communication and services became unavailable.

The Global and Cybersecurity Implications:
The Bangladesh internet blackout raises important questions about governance, cybersecurity, and civil liberties. While the government justified the shutdown as necessary to maintain order, the incident underscored the potential for misuse of centralized control over internet infrastructure. The deliberate manipulation of internet services highlighted the vulnerabilities inherent in a system where the government can exert direct control over critical communication tools.

Globally, internet shutdowns have become an increasingly common tactic in countries facing political unrest. From India to Myanmar, governments have used similar strategies to suppress dissent and control the flow of information. These incidents often lead to significant economic damage, digital isolation, and the erosion of civil liberties.
A Technologically Orchestrated Blackout:
The July 2024 internet blackout in Bangladesh was not caused by fires at data centers, as the government initially claimed. Instead, it was a deliberate, technologically orchestrated move by the government to suppress protests and control communication. The blackout, achieved through the blocking of bandwidth, CDN access, and international gateways, had far-reaching consequences for Bangladesh’s economy and digital infrastructure.

Moving forward, Bangladesh must address the risks associated with centralized internet control and implement safeguards to protect against future abuses of power. The lessons learned from this incident should inform future policy decisions, ensuring that such blackouts are not repeated without clear legal oversight and accountability.

Mustafa Mahmud Hussain: Telecommunication and ICT specialist