Photo: PID

DHAKA, Nov 27, 2025 (BSS) – Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Division Secretary Shish Haider Chowdhury today said that effective law reforms, technology-based protection systems and extensive digital literacy programmes must be prioritised to address the rapidly increasing online violence against women and girl children.

“A strong foundation of security and accountability must be built to make Bangladesh’s digital transformation sustainable. It is essential to modernise and strengthen the online complaint and investigation system, enhance cyber investigation capacity, and create widespread awareness across the country about responsible digital citizenship,” he said.

The Secretary said this while addressing a roundtable discussion at the conference room of the ICT Division in the city’s Agargaon area.

The programme, jointly organised by UNOPS Bangladesh, a2i, ICT Division, BIISS and the Maldives High Commission in Bangladesh, is part of the ongoing 16-day campaign under the theme ‘Unite to End Digital Violence against Women and Girls’.

The roundtable brought together government policymakers, diplomats, lawyers, technology experts, the private sector, civil society and media professionals to discuss the risks, consequences and remediation frameworks for various forms of digital violence, including cyberstalking, online harassment, deepfakes, photo and video distortion, and image-based abuse.

Speaking as a special guest, Sudhir Muralidharan, Country Manager for UNOPS Bangladesh and Bhutan, said digital violence is not merely a technological problem but a challenge across three areas — development, good governance and human rights. Therefore, governments, international organisations, the private sector and civil society must work together to build a collective remediation framework, he added.

A2i Project Director Md Abdur Rafiq said, “Digital platforms have created a huge space for opportunity and progress. However, this space must never become a place of fear or violence. We cannot imagine an equal digital future without ensuring the safe participation of women.”

The event was moderated by Professor Dr Tasnim Arefa Siddiqui, Chairman of the Department of Political Science at the University of Dhaka. Various stakeholders, including heads of departments and organisations, as well as Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Tasnuva Shelley, were present.