Earlier this month, two groups of students with opposing political views clashed at a public university outside of Bangladesh’s capital. The conflict, which erupted on July 15, resulted in dozens of injuries and at least five fatalities. Despite police intervention, the demonstrations intensified, prompting authorities to implement a curfew and strict internet controls nationwide on July 19.
The government’s aim in limiting access to social media platforms and news websites was to restrict communication among protesters and prevent the spread of information that could incite further unrest. However, these restrictions inadvertently led to a significant surge in VPN usage as citizens sought alternative ways to access blocked content and communicate securely.
According to the vpnMentor research team, there was an astonishing 5016% increase in VPN demand in Bangladesh during the week starting on Monday, July 22, peaking on Thursday, July 25.
Although the situation was de-escalated and broadband internet was restored, VPN usage remained high, with demand still over 2500% above normal levels as of the date of this publication.
VPNs enable users to bypass government-imposed firewalls by encrypting their internet traffic and routing it through servers in other countries. This allows individuals to mask their true IP addresses and access restricted websites. Consequently, VPNs became a vital tool for many Bangladeshis striving to maintain their online freedom during the temporary restrictions.
