There are more than 10 lakh freelancers in Bangladesh, earning 100 crore annually. The entire freelancer community suffered due to a complete internet shutdown, with no prior notice, from July 18 to July 23. It caused a big financial loss overall for freelancers like us and, most importantly, negatively impacted our relationship with international clients. Freelancers who work on different online platforms have recorded more losses.

On July 18 evening, I didn’t realise the Internet outage would continue for 5 days. I waited every day for the Internet restoration and communicated with the clients so I could recover some losses. We Bangladeshis, from when we learned to use the internet, never faced such a blackout ever in our country. Luckily, I have my clients’ WhatsApp contacts since I work outside the online platforms.

As the waiting seemed to never end, I texted on mobile to some of my regular clients, but could not communicate with the majority of them. As a result, I had to count a big loss, including refunds and missing new projects. My living is dependent on my freelancing work. Like me, there are other freelancers whose earnings deepen on their freelancing work, and no one can assume our suffering.  

Then, during the Internet restoration period, it was nothing more than a clever joke with the country’s people. What exactly did they restore, messages were sent and received after a day, no images or files were sent or received, and no site was opening properly. They said they would limit the social media; it was a big lie. I was about to hire a freelancer from an online platform, the site was loading for 6 days. Anyway, the Internet has been normal since 31st July, and I’m very scared the Internet drama will be imposed on us again.  

The freelancer community has an increasing contribution to the country’s economy. Freelancing is dependent on uninterrupted online access. According to the ICT Division report published in December 2023, they are expecting a 1000-crore freelancing industry by 2026. They want people to send and earn remittances, and the recent political unrest, student killings, the Internet shutdown, and people’s sufferings are proof of how they treat country’s people.  

Currently, what is going on in our country is a stressful situation for all of us personally, professionally, and politically. It is high time to care for our people from our position and support each other. We have to raise our voices for our rights and needs, and towards the system that oppresses us. Country people deserve better treatment from any government. No government should forget a country run by its people and their hard-earned money.

The weapon you purchased to protect the country’s people, don’t dare to use the same weapon to kill them. It will cost YOU, whoever you are…