Amidst the protests demanding a reform of the quota system in government jobs, the 4G network was abruptly shut down around midnight on July 15, 2024, in the Dhaka University campus area. Witnessing this firsthand was Taosin Md. Bahadurshah Zafar, a graduate of the Department of Television, Film, and Photography at the University of Dhaka.

As a producer at Dhaka University Television and a Peace Fellow with the Films For Peace Foundation, Taosin is making his mark with the award-winning documentary “Banyan A Silent Witness”, which was recognised at both the Liberation Docfest Bangladesh and the Peace Film Festival in 2024.

In addition to his creative pursuits, Taosin also worked as an Undergraduate Research Assistant (URA) at the University of Dhaka, where he contributed to a project investigating the impact of Over-the-Top (OTT) platforms in Bangladesh like Chorki, Bioscope.

Carrying the personal and collective experience of the internet shutdown in July, Taosin went on to create The Black Kite, a film produced under EngageMedia’s Tech Tales Youth film collection and mentorship program. After its completion, the film was screened at various local and international venues

In this article, we dive into Taosin’s journey, which blends personal resistance with creative resilience, to understand his work’s impact.

A Small Yet Significant Beginning

Bangladesh has a long history of internet shutdowns. Research indicates that, in the past decade, citizens have experienced an internet shutdown at least once each year. The impact of these shutdowns affects everyone. As a young filmmaker, Taosin witnessed the effects of internet shutdowns long before he began his work in this area. The impact of these disruptions is strongly felt by professionals who rely on digital platforms for their daily livelihoods.

Taosin, as a filmmaker, has always been interested in highlighting people’s struggles through his work, especially issues that lack sufficient discussion in Bangladesh. Digital rights, for example, is an area that remains relatively unknown to the general public, as the topic itself is still relatively new. Thus, discussions surrounding it are primarily confined to direct advocacy, often failing to capture the attention of young people.

“Most people don’t realise how these shutdowns affect real lives,” Taosin said. “It’s not just about losing access to social media—it’s about missed opportunities, stalled work, and feeling cut off from the world.”

This is where the Tech Tales Youth program, through Taosin Zafar’s film, made a significant impact. On one hand, the film brought to the forefront an important but less-discussed issue in Bangladesh’s digital rights sphere. On the other hand, it provided advocacy tools for those working in the space. In this way, the film is actively shaping the digital rights conversation in Bangladesh.

Creating Knowledge, Creating Change

The Black Kite has been screened at two universities in Bangladesh and also in Japan. One notable aspect of these screenings was the audience’s intense interest and barrage of questions surrounding the film’s themes. The post-screening discussions created a moment of interaction among the audience, helping them not only share their own experiences with internet shutdowns but also broaden their understanding of the multi-dimensional impact of these disruptions. For example, many were unaware of how digital rights violations had happened, and as a result, incidents of digital harassment often went unreported, leaving such events to remain hidden.

At the Bangladesh University of Professionals screening, one participant shared how the prolonged internet shutdown in July had prevented him from submitting his university applications to foreign institutions on time. This had a detrimental impact on his academic future. This personal experience was mirrored in The Black Kite, as the character Arif, much like this participant, suffered both personal and professional setbacks due to the internet shutdown.

The film also sheds light on the direct economic impact of digital repression in Bangladesh, particularly in the freelance sector. Bangladesh is one of the countries with a high number of freelancers. During the July internet shutdown, the country faced an estimated loss of millions of dollars.

Every post-screening discussion sparked crucial conversations. These discussions not only brought the audience together but also created knowledge that could help build future unity against digital repression.

A Resource for Activists

In Bangladesh’s human rights activism, a significant gap exists in the use of creative media, particularly in digital rights advocacy. The youth, a large part of Bangladesh’s population, are active in cyberspace, and their aspirations for a better society are high. They wish to unite against injustice and demand change. However, there is a lack of awareness and knowledge, and many traditional advocacy methods fail to capture the attention of these young digital natives.

The Black Kite serves as a new tool in this context. Organisations like Digitally Rights and Activate Rights Bangladesh, which have been working against internet shutdowns, have previously lacked such creative tools for advocacy. Maruf Ahmed, the Managing Director of Activate Rights, commented, “The Black Kite film, produced through the Tech Tales Youth program, has become a fantastic resource for our anti-internet shutdown activism. At the same time, through the work done in the Tech Tales Youth Bangladesh edition, we have learned how change-seekers can use creative advocacy to impact human rights activism.”

Several organisations working on internet rights have expressed interest in using the film for their advocacy efforts.

Looking to the Future

In July 2024, young people initiated a democratic struggle against an authoritarian government, one that seems likely to be prolonged. The democratic aspirations emerging among the youth are fostering greater respect for human rights and an embrace of pluralism. They have also become vocal advocates against ongoing violations of digital rights in Bangladesh, which have persisted under previous administrations.

Taosin believes that his film will spark a conversation among the youth about human rights violations, ultimately leading to action. He considers this essential for the country’s future as a democracy.

Check out the Tech Tales Youth Impact Toolkit, a strategic tool designed to amplify engagement, ensure lasting impact, and help prioritise the key audiences to reach for meaningful change

Film’s Message	Impact Goals	Partners	Type of Change Changing Minds Changing Behaviours Building Communities Changing Structures	Impact Activity	Impact Tasks
Internet shutdowns silence dissent and harm the economic lifelines of many workers.	To sear into public memory how the 2024 internet shutdown devastated both protest movements and everyday Bangladeshi lives, from disabled freelancers to small business owners.	Students, campus-based film groups and initiatives Freelancer Networks and Communities	Changing Minds Building Communities	University Circuit Screenings & Workshops	Contact film departments and student organizations at 3-5 universities  Prepare tailored presentation slides and discussion guides for student freelancers  Create feedback forms on the internet shutdown impact  Compile student experiences into a shareable document  Engage campus or media outlets to cover screenings  Provide follow-up resources on digital rights
The film illustrates how internet shutdowns create a devastating domino effect, impacting not just digital work but basic utilities and daily life.	Through collective remembrance, citizens can join forces to prevent governments from using internet shutdowns as a tool against their own people, supporting initiatives that promote digital freedom.	Activate Rights Freelancer and workers’ groups	Building Communities	Gig Worker Forum & Solidarity Network	Partner with labour groups, co-working spaces and IT hubs to host targeted screenings Develop a simple template for gig workers to document financial losses during shutdowns Create a WhatsApp/Signal group for continued organising Compile testimonials into a report that can be shared with advocacy groups Invite experienced labour organisers to facilitate discussions Connect gig workers with digital rights organisations
The film’s messages above combined	Push for laws that protect the jobs of freelancers/gig-workers and other workers who depend on the internet.	Gig workers groups and labour associations Access Now and the Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST)  Standing committees within the parliament Concerned government agencies	Changing Structures	Policy Dialogue on Digital Economy Resilience Use the film to catalyse discussions on policy changes needed to protect digital livelihoods during crises.	Partner with digital rights organizations to host a policy roundtable Use film clips as conversation starters about internet shutdowns Contribute to policy briefs highlighting economic impacts Create media content summarising policy recommendations Follow up with participating stakeholders on action steps
Through Arif’s story, the film shows how internet shutdowns disproportionately impact people with disabilities who rely on digital platforms for their livelihood.	Establish support for vulnerable workers during shutdowns and empower gig workers with tools and information to advocate for their rights.	Disability rights organizations Freelancer platforms (Fiverr, Upwork representatives) Local IT associations	Changing Behaviors	Digital Rights Toolkit & Exhibition	Collaborate with progressive cultural spaces. Design simple visual displays showing economic impacts Create practical guides for protecting digital work during crises Include testimonials and stories from the film and beyond Develop contingency planning workshops for freelancers Create shareable infographics and resources
The film demonstrates that internet shutdowns are not just a local issue but have global ripple effects on business relationships and economic connections.	Build international solidarity and awareness about the global impact of internet shutdowns.	International digital rights organisations Global freelancer networks Theater Group Gumbo (Japan) Sakai International Community Arts	Changing Minds	International Screening Circuit and film festivals Expand on the successful Japan screening to reach international audiences, particularly in countries with business ties to Bangladesh.	Submit to relevant human rights and social issue film festivals Develop a press kit highlighting the film’s global relevance Prepare discussion guides for international audiences Arrange for subtitles in key languages Plan virtual Q&As for international screenings Document international audience responses