Cyberbullying in Bangladesh highlighted on International Day for the Prevention of Violence against Women
A Christian entrepreneur was forced to close her online business due to threats and offensive comments. A story shared by many others in the country, it goes beyond verbal abuse. According to the CSWC, 76 per cent of victims of online violence are women. Among the most vulnerable groups are female students, with the spread of deepfake images aimed at humiliating them.
Dhaka (AsiaNews) – The world today marked International Day for the Prevention of Violence against Women, a reminder of the growing threats women face, not only in the real world, but increasingly also in the digital world.
In Bangladesh, gender-based cyberbullying and sectarian harassment have emerged recently and alarmingly surged, silencing women's voices and undermining their development and social affirmation.
Swapna Gomes (name changed for her safety), a Christian entrepreneur, launched an online store, selling clothes. Her dream quickly turned into a nightmare when she became the target of relentless cyberbullying.
Threats and offensive comments flooded her social media pages, damaging her mental health and undermining customer trust. Despite reporting the abuse, the harassment continued, forcing her to close her business.
“To help my husband, I wished to do online business, but I could not continue because of cyberbullying,” she told AsiaNews.
Swapna's story reflects the fear many women in Bangladesh experience when venturing into online commerce. Experts warn that the problem goes beyond verbal abuse. Artificial intelligence is now being misused to create deepfake images aimed at humiliating women.
On 3 November, Shehreen Amin Bhuiyan, assistant professor at the University of Dhaka, filed a complaint with police after such images about herself were released, highlighting the seriousness of technology-fuelled gender-based violence.
The Cyber Support for Women and Children (CSWC) platform reports that 76 per cent of victims of online violence are women.
Founded in 2023, the NGO brings together 14 organisations committed to protecting digital rights. The harassment, experts explain, is so extreme that some victims took their own lives.
“Cyberbullying is used to silence women who speak out online,” said Samina Lutfa, sociology professor at Dhaka University. “The abuse is so severe that many women withdraw from public life,” she lamented.
Female students are particularly vulnerable. Nuzia Hasin Rasha, president of the Revolutionary Students’ Alliance at Dhaka University, reported that female candidates in student elections have been targeted with obscene comments and manipulated images.
“The goal was clear – to block women's political rise,” the student activist stressed, noting that complaints to authorities often go unanswered.
Human rights lawyer Salma Ali, a consultant for the Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Association (BNWLA), also noted the lack of awareness among many victims. “Many women," she said, “do not know how to respond to cyberbullying.”
Rebeca Gomes, a Catholic lawyer who works at the Dhaka District and Sessions Court, told AsiaNews that women should use social media with caution.
“More importantly, there needs to be a change in mindset. Every boy should learn from his family how to respect women. If they learn this, I believe cyberbullying can be stopped,” she said.
This year's theme on violence prevention day, “Say no to all forms of violence against women and girls, including cyber violence, ensure the advancement of women and girls”, is a call to action.
As technology becomes a tool of oppression, stricter laws, digital literacy, and social transformation are essential to protect the dignity of women and ensure their participation in public life.
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09/11/2023 12:35
15/06/2022 16:23
