If one hears something that needs verification, the first thing they usually do is search it on the internet. The answer to just about any query has only been a Google search away for years.
But what do you do if you do not have access to the internet? You wait till someone else verifies it for you. The situation in Bangladesh is currently that -- you have nothing to do except wait for information to come out on TV.
Naturally, while waiting for the news, many people spend their time calling or texting others to see what they have heard about the situation in the country. As a result, several rumours have been spreading since the total internet outage began on Thursday.
One of the rumours that has been spreading is about the death toll from the violence that followed the quota reform protests.
Even before the internet outage, several Facebook and Instagram pages were seen calculating the death toll from unverified rumours without speaking to the authorities or local hospitals. Such unsubstantiated posts fuelled panic and unrest across the country.
How was life without the internet?Although the internet outage means unverified posts cannot be seen in the country at the moment, misinformation continues to spread. The death toll may be high but the exact figure remains shrouded in mystery, and the imagination can run wild in the absence of accurate data.
Another rumour that spread in the last few days was over the alleged death of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. The rumour was eventually put to bed when statements from several BNP leaders and doctors aired on TV confirmed that Khaleda Zia's condition was stable, but that was nearly half a day after the rumour had started spreading.
Rumours had also been spreading about the Narsingdi jail break. Many people had heard that over 1,200 inmates had escaped the prison, spreading panic in surrounding districts. TV news eventually confirmed that 826 prisoners had fled.
Among all the rumours, the one that has been most widely discussed is about when the internet in the country may be restored. Many believe the internet will not be back till next week, while others say the fix could take as long as a month. With no indication from the authorities on which is more likely, the people continue to ponder in the dark.
