ANN/THE DAILY STAR – For five days, people in Dhaka were thrust back into a bygone era, where everyday tasks now deemed routine demanded considerable time and effort.
The Internet, deeply integrated into the daily life, made its absence feel crippling.
Paying utility bills, once accomplished with a few screen taps, now required waiting in long lines with cash in hand, alongside others who feared imminent power cuts.
This stark contrast to the past vividly underscores people’s growing dependence on the Internet.
Digital payments and online banking, the backbones of modern convenience, vanished in an instant.
Without online access, cash became inaccessible, turning everyday transactions into logistical nightmares.
The inability to pay credit card bills or recharge phone minutes without physically visiting banks or service providers brought an unexpected level of disruption.
Entertainment, too, took a significant hit. Streaming services, the modern source of endless content, ceased to function.
People were left with basic cable or, for the more nostalgic, radio.
Booking flights, transportation tickets, or hotel reservations became impossible, reminiscent of an era when such tasks required extensive planning and travel agency visits.
The blackout did not just disrupt personal convenience; it brought corporate and operational systems to a halt.
Simple communication, from flight operations to corporate management, crumbled like a house of cards. ATM booths, often our financial lifelines, were mostly out of order.
E-commerce platforms, ride-sharing apps, and food delivery services turned into nothing more than colourful icons on the screen, devoid of function.
In the wake of this experience, many are reconsidering their preparedness for future incidences, if they occur.
Thoughts of keeping cash at home, reinstalling landlines, and purchasing radios are becoming common. These measures, though somewhat comforting, highlight our vulnerability and the immense challenge of reverting to pre- Internet methods in a world that operates at lightning speed.
However, amidst the chaos, a silver lining appeared. Families found themselves spending more time together, rekindling bonds, and rediscovering hobbies long forgotten.
While this is a heartening outcome, it begs the question: is it enough to outweigh the broader impact of the collapse of the Internet?
This lack of online access has shown us how helpless, desperate, and stuck people can feel without the digital lifeline.
It forced everyone to confront the fragility of the modern convenience and question our preparedness for future disruptions.
As we move forward, it is crucial to reflect on our dependency and find a balance that ensures we are not entirely incapacitated by such events. – K Tanzeel Zaman
