Is Free Fire Banned in Bangladesh? – Full Details
Free Fire is a battle royale game with a massive active user base. This game is famous among players from across the world, including Bangladesh. However, the concern about its impact on the youth led to the banning of the game in the country. Initially, a temporary ban was issued for three months, but it remains inaccessible in various parts of the country. This blog features up-to-date information on Free Fire getting banned and the reasons behind it.
Understanding the Free Fire Ban in Bangladesh
The Bangladeshi government and regulatory bodies showed their concerns about the effects of online games on young players. These games include PUBG and Free Fire, as these are considered highly addictive with potential negative social impacts. Keeping these concerns in mind, the government announced a temporary ban on Free Fire on August 16, 2021. Afterwards, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) took the next step of enforcing the ban. You have option to play with FF Advance Server APK and can enjoy Free Fire excitement.
Reasons Behind Banning Free Fire in Bangladesh
There are several reasons why the government put a ban on Free Fire. Here are some of the key factors that led to this ban;
Gaming Addiction Among Youth
One of the main issues that the parents, teachers, and child psychologists presented was the excessive gaming sessions leading to addiction. The addiction peaked during the pandemic when children were mostly homeschooled for the whole year.
Allegedly, this addiction led to a significant decline in academic performance among students as they started giving more time to gaming than studies. Studies suggest that constant exposure to fast-paced games reduces attention span, which makes it difficult for students to concentrate on studies.
Mental and Physical Health Risks
Health experts have shared their concerns regarding the impact of excessive screen time on people’s mental and physical health. Players who are not able to balance their gaming sessions often experience emotional distress, anxiety, and depression. It also leads to unhealthy and toxic habits of neglecting physical activities, weight gain, irregular sleep patterns, and a decline in overall fitness.
Social and Behavioral Concerns Linked to Violent Content
The violent elements in battle royale games like Free Fire have sparked a controversial debate on their potential impact on young players. Exposure to violent content may influence young minds, which can lead to aggressive behavior in real life.
The prolonged engagement in virtual shooting and combat also desensitizes players to violence even outside the screens. Young players whose brains are not fully developed may struggle to differentiate between real and virtual worlds and exhibit hostile and aggressive behavior.
Legal and Regulatory Issues on In-game Purchases
The game featured no age restriction or options for parental controls. Minors were reportedly making in-game purchases without parental consent, which led to financial losses for the families. The loot boxes and microtransactions in Free Fire are debated to be addictive as these are based on randomized rewards in exchange for real money. It encourages compulsive spending behavior in players, especially the young ones. Players from banned regions can still enjoy the classic Free Fire experience by installing the Free Fire APK version.
Ban Implementation by BTRC
After the high court ruling, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) and the Ministry of Home Affairs were asked to take all the steps to ensure the ban on Free Fire. The internet providers and telecom operators were instructed to restrict and block access to the game.
However, this could not stop the Free Fire enthusiasts, and they started using VPN services to access the game. So, the question of whether the ban was effective in achieving its goal remains unanswered.
Current Status of Free Fire in Bangladesh
As of March 2025, there is no official report or update on a permanent unbanning of Free Fire. The initial three months ban is still reported to be an action. However, Garena announced a job position for a Senior Associate in Esports Operations based in Dhaka. The job listings also mention the operation of official tournaments like EWC and FFWS qualifications. This gives the Bangladeshi Free Fire players hope for the comeback of game.
Read More On Free Fire
Final Words
In short, Free Fire remains banned in Bangladesh, with no official update on its return. However, Garena’s interest in hiring Bangladeshi Free Fire employees has given a ray of hope to the players. So, stay updated on government announcements and explore alternate gaming options until further notice on the return of Free Fire.
