64% women face online harassment in Bangladesh: BMP
Photo: Agamir Somoy
Bangladesh Mahila Parishad (BMP) said 64 percent of women have been victims of online harassment.
BMP made these remarks at a presentation program of research findings titled “Understanding and Addressing Technology Facilitated Gender Based Violence (TFGBV) in Bangladesh” conducted by BMP and partner organizations in Dhaka on Thursday.
The research added that some of the women are losing the rhythm of their studies or jobs. Propaganda and blackmail are going on using the personal photos or identity. Only 4.6 percent of victims are approaching the police to seek redress in such incidents. However, even they are not getting the remedy.
According to the research findings, 45.5 percent of women participating in the survey became victims of TFGBV. Among active internet users, this rate is 63.7 percent. Young women and students aged 15 to 24 are at particular risk. Harassment, financial fraud, sexual and image-based abuse, fake IDs, cyberstalking, and deepfakes generated by artificial intelligence (AI) are notable forms of this violence. Facebook and Messenger emerged as the primary media in these crimes.
The study showed that while 56.5 percent of victims blocked perpetrators from online platforms, only 4.6 percent sought police assistance and 81.8 percent of women who approached the police said there was little to no progress in their cases. Besides, 71.6 percent of women believed that society blames the victim in incidents of online violence and 67 percent of women had never received institutional online safety training.
Delivering the presidential speech at the event, BMP President Fauzia Moslem said, “The objective of the research is not to determine overall statistics, but rather to identify structural weaknesses and crises of violence.” She emphasized delivering the recommendations to relevant stakeholders and implementing them. In her view, unless gender inequality is eliminated, it will be difficult to prevent new forms of cybercrime.
In her welcome address, BMP Joint General Secretary Seema Moslem added, “The biggest obstacle on the path of women’s progress is increasing violence. To address this crisis, BMP conducted the research in collaboration with Digital Diet and Dismislab. The main goal of the research is to ensure digital security through a data-driven movement and play an effective role in preventing violence against women.”
On the other hand, Deputy Police Commissioner of the Women Support and Investigation Division of Police Liza Begum noted, “There are challenges in identifying the perpetrator’s identity behind fake IDs, preserving digital evidence, and inter-institutional coordination. Integrated initiatives are needed to ensure the protection and effective remedy for victims.”
