Internet exodus: Bangladeshi freelancers flee to Nepal, India for connectivity

The government estimates there are over 700,000 active freelancers in Bangladesh. The number of young people pursuing freelancing as a profession is growing, despite numerous obstacles. The biggest challenge currently facing Bangladeshi freelancers is the lack of uninterrupted and high-speed internet service.

According to a World Bank report, internet service in Bangladesh is interrupted at least seven times a month. However, this July has become the cruelest for freelancers. Due to the quota reform movement, internet speeds began slowing down from July 10, worsening by July 15. On July 18, around 9:00pm, the internet was suddenly shut down across the country, leaving freelancers in a desperate situation.

Freelancers and industry stakeholders report that internet shutdowns are suffocating their work. The situation became dire with a complete shutdown lasting five consecutive days, forcing many freelancers to seek refuge in India and Nepal to continue their work. Most Bangladeshi freelancers have rushed to Nepal due to its on-arrival visa facility.

Over 200 freelancers now in Nepal, India, others looking for ways

The Bangladesh Freelancer Development Society (BFDS) is the most organised group among several freelancer organisations. According to various leaders and members of BFDS, 161 Bangladeshi freelancers have gone to Nepal, while 33 have gone to India. This number is likely higher, and many more are preparing to leave due to the continued slow internet speeds in Bangladesh.

Freelancer Atiqur Rahman left Dhaka for Nepal on July 23. He has been staying at the Chandragiri Hills hotel in Kathmandu, using 4G data and the hotel's internet to keep in touch with clients. Despite the high costs of staying and eating there, he is managing to work.

Atiqur Rahman shared his frustrations on Facebook, writing about the difficulties of working abroad to keep his IT firm alive. He noted that despite having good internet facilities in Nepal, the experience is exhausting and costly.

Jago News approached him through his Facebook post and Atiqur said he is feeling gloomy as he was forced to stay in Nepal.

Atiqur Rahman highlighted that the cost of living and working abroad is substantial. The expense of air tickets alone was $400. Another freelancer, Mizanur Rahman, reported working from the Natarkot area of Nepal due to its relatively low cost of living.

Al-Mahmoud, founder and CEO of 'SpringDaves' and 'Bit Byte Technology,' sent several team members to Nepal, incurring significant daily expenses to keep the business running.

Similarly, Mainul Arefin, owner and CEO of Mainul Extension, went to Dubai for work to keep his IT firm alive.

Asifur Rahman Sohag, is now working from Kolkata, expressed the challenges of working in a foreign country despite the relatively lower costs.

Economic impact of internet shutdown

Dr Tanjiba Rahman, Chairman of the Bangladesh Freelancing Development Society (BFDS), stated that the freelancing sector has lost Tk 150 crore due to internet slowdowns and shutdowns over the last seven days. The long-term loss could be up to Tk 700 crore. This dire situation is forcing many freelancers to migrate to neighboring countries.

Tanjiba emphasised the need for uninterrupted and reliable internet services in Bangladesh to prevent further losses.

Former BASIS president AKM Fahim Mashroor warned that ongoing internet issues could lead to long-term damage, such as negative reviews from clients and loss of future work opportunities.

Govt response and incentives

In response to the crisis, State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology Junaid Ahmed Palak assured that cash incentives for freelancers might be increased to compensate for their losses. He mentioned discussing this with the Ministry of Commerce to potentially raise the incentives to 3 or 4 per cent.

However, Mahfuzur Rahman, founder and CEO of Rajshahi Tech and BFDS leader, pointed out that the promised 4 per cent cash incentive has not yet been implemented. He urged the government to provide the same 10 per cent incentive that IT sector organisations receive.

BFDS Chairman Tanjiba Rahman added that while a 10 per cent incentive involves a lengthy process, the 4 per cent incentive should be implemented quickly to help freelancers during these challenging times.