The Adviser on Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology to the Prime Minister, Rehan Asif Asad, mentioned that a significant portion, around 60-70 percent, of online social traffic comprises bot activity rather than genuine user engagement. He made these comments during a discussion on “Cyber Security Legislation, Freedom of Expression, and Platform Governance in Bangladesh” held at Lakeshore Hotel in Gulshan, Dhaka. The event was a collaborative effort by Drik, Nagorik Coalition, and Unesco.
Asad highlighted the cybersecurity scenario in Bangladesh, stating that there is a considerable distance to cover in safeguarding both public and private data. He expressed concern over the prevalent use of weak credentials like ‘admin’ for usernames and ‘password123’ for passwords in critical systems, labeling such practices as criminal in the modern context.
Moreover, Asad emphasized that the government has transitioned from criminal prosecution to civil liability concerning personal data protection laws. Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), Maj Gen (retd) Emdad‑Ul‑Bari, disclosed that the commission had requested the removal of approximately 27,000 posts or links last year, with a success rate of 63 percent.
Notably, content related to suicide and child abuse achieved removal rates of 100 percent and 98 percent, respectively. However, despite the prevalence of requests targeting misinformation, disinformation, and fake news, the takedown rate stood at only 56 percent. The BTRC chairman cited inadequate inter-agency coordination as a significant hindrance to digital security progress in the country and warned about the growing threat of deepfake videos undermining public trust in authentic content.
He further stressed the necessity of regulation to mitigate risks such as communal violence, fraud, and gender-based harassment. The discussion, moderated by Shahidul Alam, the renowned photographer, and Drik founder, also included Dr. Jan Barata, an international legal expert affiliated with Unesco; Susan Vize, a Unesco representative; Fahim Mashroor, co-coordinator of Nagorik Coalition; and rights activist Nabila Idris.
