The Prime Minister’s Adviser on Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology, Rehan Asif Asad, highlighted today that a significant portion of online social traffic, ranging from 60-70 percent, consists of bot traffic rather than genuine user engagement. This observation was shared during a discussion on “Cyber Security Legislation, Freedom of Expression, and Platform Governance in Bangladesh” held at Lakeshore Hotel in Dhaka’s Gulshan. The event was jointly organized by Drik, Nagorik Coalition, and Unesco.
Speaking about cybersecurity in the country, Asad emphasized that Bangladesh still has a considerable distance to cover in safeguarding both public and private data. He pointed out a concerning trend where administrators of critical systems continue to use weak credentials such as “admin” for usernames and “password123” for passwords, stressing that such lax practices are deemed criminal in the current digital landscape.
As part of efforts to enhance personal data protection laws, Asad mentioned a transition by the government from criminal prosecution to civil liability. Additionally, Maj Gen (retd) Emdad‑Ul‑Bari, Chairman of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), disclosed that the commission had requested the removal of approximately 27,000 posts or links last year, with a successful takedown rate of 63 percent. Notably, content related to suicide and child abuse achieved removal rates of 100 percent and 98 percent, respectively.
Despite the prevalence of misinformation, disinformation, and fake news, the takedown rate for such content stood at 56 percent. Chairman Bari underscored the challenge of poor inter-agency coordination hampering the country’s digital security progress. He also highlighted the detrimental impact of deepfake videos on public trust, leading to heightened skepticism even towards authentic content.
Warning against the dangers of non-regulation, Chairman Bari stressed the potential rise in communal violence, fraud, and gender-based harassment. The event, moderated by esteemed photographer and Drik founder Shahidul Alam, featured key speakers including Dr. Jan Barata, an international legal expert affiliated with Unesco; Susan Vize, Unesco representative; Fahim Mashroor, co-coordinator of Nagorik Coalition; and rights activist Nabila Idris.