Online freelancers working from the country fear that the prolonged internet shutdown would have a far-reaching impact as they would lose their regular clients and a negative image of the country would be projected abroad.
Even after the internet service is restored in the country, local freelancers will have to struggle for a long time to regain the trust of overseas employers and positive ratings in a highly competitive cyber space, insiders said.
Tanim Dewan is such a freelancer residing in old Dhaka. He has been working for some international clients in the field of Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and graphics design.
"In this prevailing situation, I'm seriously in a fix as I cannot even inform the clients about the problem here," he told the FE. He usually earns Tk 60,000-Tk 70,000 per month, he said.
"The problem is not merely a loss of earnings, rather it is decoupling of a relation with old clients," Tanim said.
Unlike other jobholders, online freelancers have to invest a long time for development of their skills and a higher rating in the virtual marketplaces to grab attention from job providers, he said.
Echoing similar views, Chairperson of Bangladesh Freelancers Development Society (BFDS) Dr Tanjiba Rahman said local freelancers' ratings in different virtual marketplaces are likely to slide as fallout of internet shutdown, which will create difficulties in getting jobs in the future.
"Probability of a gig worker getting jobs largely depends on his/her respective rating that is defined by the virtual platforms' algorithms," she said.
"Even if the internet service is restored at this moment, it will take more than a year to regain the previous position despite novel moves being undertaken for the branding of country's freelancers."
A good number of efficient freelancers are likely to lose gig works while new freelancers will feel discouraged to enter the virtual market at a time when the unemployment rate in the country is too high, she added.
She suggested building the country's capacity to regulate the internet system with optimum block mechanism.
"We have to be competent enough to control access to undesired websites as some countries are already doing so," she said.
According to sources, there are around 1.0 million freelancers, including 0.6 million registered with different virtual platforms. Online freelancers earn nearly $150 million as export earnings through formal channels per year, while the total earnings are much higher.
Khairul Alam, owner of Fleet BD, a leading organisation in the sector, told the FE that the country's reputation has been at stake due to this.
"Many of our clients will now look for freelancers in countries like India, Pakistan and Philippines," he said.
Virtual freelancing is not like apparel sector which will attract clients despite many odds, he said, adding that gig employers have a plethora of options across the globe.
Like freelancing and other digital jobs, digital markets are also in trouble.
Munaf Mojib Chowdhury, a partner director of Aleph Holding, which is Meta Authorised Sales Partner in Bangladesh, said the internet closure has sent a wrong message to foreign clients and investors.
"We are not even getting the feedback from partners in other countries," he said on Tuesday afternoon.
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