As the internet services have been suspended since Thursday night, smartphone-dependent generation once again taken up newspapers to find out what is happening around the country amid the violent clash.
According to information obtained from multiple national dailies, no copies remained unsold due to rising demand of print version among readers.
Nurul Amin, a middle-age man, said he has been buying newspaper from local hawkers for the last few days after his daily morning walk.
He said: “Once, I used to read printed newspaper on daily basis. As now it is easier to get news on smartphones, there is no necessary to buy newspaper daily. But due to internet blackout I bought newspaper after a long time.”
While visiting a newspaper stand near Khilgaon flyover, it was seen a small crowd was centring the hawker.
While some were talking among themselves about the state of the country, others were busy reading what happened the day before.
The hawker said that his sale has increased since Friday. “Newspapers are selling like candy. I had my stock cleared out within two hours yesterday (Monday).”
As per information of authorities concerned related to newspaper circulation, due to internet disruption, newspaper sale has witnessed 20-25% surges in the last four days.
Bangladesh Newspaper Hawkers Association President Abdul Mannan said the circulation of prominent newspapers and active newspapers have increased 20-25%. “Besides, the newspapers which are not active in the market have also saw 10-15% surges in circulation.”
Terming this as a positive sign for newspaper industry, Mannan hoped that this would be a good opportunity for newspapers to generate new generation of readers.
Masud Pavel, an employee of circulation Department of Khoborer Kagoj, echoed the same.
Citing the circulation number of a prominent national daily, he said that the average circulation of his newspaper was about 80,000 in the normal time. Amid internet disruption, the number of circulation has increased nearly to 100,000.
Meanwhile, another reader, Mahobub Hossain, said that he had to pay Tk5 more to buy a national daily. Some hawkers are charging extra to take advantage of the situation.
Firoz Ahmed, an employee of the business department of Financial Express, said that the sale of the newspaper doubled in the last three days.
Professor Golam Rahman, the editor of Ajker Patrika, said that the surge of newspaper sale is the reality of internet disruption. He mentioned two reasons behind the surge.
People are watching television but they are not satisfied with the broadcast. They are also in doubt whether the news is authentic or biased. For this, they are reading newspaper for more detail information, said Prof Rahman, also former chief information commissioner.
He also said that reading newspaper has become a another medium to pass free time as people are staying home in government declared general holiday amid curfew. They are reading newspaper to pass their leisure time.