Bangladeshi IT workers flock to Nepal after government imposes internet blackout to contain protests

KATHMANDU, July 30: Hotel occupancy rates in Thamel district, the main tourist hub of Nepal's capital Kathmandu, have recently surged, recovering from an earlier low of 24 percent. The increase comes as Bangladeshi authorities imposed an internet shutdown to curb ongoing student protests in several major cities in Bangladesh. As violence intensified and the government imposed an internet shutdown to thwart protests, most IT professionals employed in Bangladesh could no longer work from home. They were therefore forced to leave the country temporarily to perform their duties. Nepal has become a popular destination due to its visa-on-arrival system and a flight distance of less than an hour. Immigration officials said Bangladeshis have been entering Nepal by air and land in recent days. While the exact number is unclear, it is estimated that more than 1,000 Bangladeshi nationals have arrived in Kathmandu in the wake of the student-led protests, according to Director General Kosha Hari Niraula. These workers, who previously carried out outsourcing work for international companies, were staying in hotels in Thamel. Their presence has led to a significant increase in hotel bookings in the area. In Bangladesh, under the existing reservation system, only 44 percent of first- and second-class government jobs are allocated on the basis of merit. The remaining 56 percent are reserved for specific communities: 30 percent for children and grandchildren of freedom fighters, 10 percent for women, 10 percent for people from underdeveloped areas, 5 percent for ethnic minorities, and 1 percent for the physically disabled. Students, mostly university students, are protesting against the government's 30 percent job quota for families of veterans of the 1971 War of Independence, proposed by Sheikh Hasina's government due to high youth unemployment in the country. Though the Bangladeshi government restored internet services five days ago, some of the population remain in Nepal fearing possible internet interruptions due to the ongoing protests. A long-term strike that began on July 16 ended in violence as people protested reservations in government jobs. Hoteliers in Kathmandu are reporting an unexpected rise in bookings. Not only Bangladeshis but also visitors from the United States, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and European countries have contributed to this increase. The Bangladeshi visitors are using hotels as temporary work stations and are expected to stay in Nepal until their work is completed.