Blackout Rebellion: Resource Mobilisation Strategies during the Internet Shutdown of the July 2024 Uprising in Bangladesh

Abstract

The 2024 July uprising against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s authoritarian regime is recognised as one of the most salient mass movements in the history of independent Bangladesh. During this uprising, the Hasina government imposed a complete internet blackout for five consecutive days and committed acts of mass killing to suppress the movement. This study examines how student leaders organised and sustained the movement despite the disruptions to communication strategies and resource mobilisation caused by the internet blackout, as well as the alternative communication modes they employed. Utilising Resource Mobilisation Theory and the Theory of Collective Action, it investigates the use of traditional and non-internet resources, personal contacts, social networks and informal communication channels to maintain the movement’s momentum and coordinate the protests. The study adopts a qualitative case study approach, employing semi-structured interviews, personal observations and archival research to analyse the experiences of student leaders and organisers. Preliminary findings suggest that student leaders and organisers employed traditional means of communication, such as phone calls, texts, handwritten messages, personal contacts, community networks and printed newspapers, in order to share information among fellow organisers and protesters. These efforts were further enhanced by high levels of trust, shared grievances and collective resilience, which sustained the mass movement. The significance of this study lies in its illumination of the protest leaders’ ability to manage communication, mobilisation and resistance in a repressive environment with limited internet access, providing valuable insights for future research.