Stop bullying, misinformation targeting women

Women must be given adequate space in politics and the freedom to express their opinions without falling victim to rumours or mob justice on social media, speakers said at an event yesterday.
The event, titled “Unmasking Violence: Combating Misinformation, Disinformation, and Cyberbullying”, was jointly organised by USAID and Dhaka Tribune as part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign at the capital’s Krishibid Institution Bangladesh Auditorium.
Umama Fatema, coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Students’ Movement, talked about the online harassment faced by female students and mothers who were at the forefront of recent mass protests.
“They have been subjected to derogatory comments about their clothing, behaviour, and speech on social media. The political space is already underserved for women, and the politics of misinformation and rumours has made the situation worse,” she said.
Barrister Mitin Sanjana, a Supreme Court lawyer and researcher, criticised the inadequacies in Bangladesh’s cyber security laws. “Girls are particularly vulnerable to cyberbullying, yet only one in 100 victims seek legal help. Often, police dismiss these cases as minor, while instances of victim-blaming and character assassination remain rampant, with no legal protection against such actions. The laws require urgent reform,” she said.
Sirazum Munira, former lead member of the Grassroot Network of the Youth Policy Forum, said 89 percent of cyberbullying victims in Bangladesh are aged between 18 and 30, with 73.4 percent not seeking legal action.
She identified deepfake and generative AI technologies, lack of digital literacy, and insufficient fact-checking infrastructure as significant challenges. “Pornography, offensive messages, and derogatory statements dominate crimes against women,” she added.
Maliha Tabassum, faculty member of Bangladesh University of Professionals, pointed out that while urban youth are aware of AI, teens at the grassroot level lack digital literacy and often overlook online harassment, enabling perpetrators.
“We need to raise awareness at the personal level,” she urged.
Poet and activist Ferdous Ara Rumi linked social media misuse to child marriage.
“In villages, the threat of ‘making it viral’ is commonly used. Families, fearing social disgrace, often resort to child marriage to protect their reputation,” she said.
Troy Beckman, USAID’s director of communications, said the youth should play a major role in addressing digital harassment.
“Young people are the driving force for change in Bangladesh and must take action against this issue,” he said.
Reaz Ahmed, executive editor of Dhaka Tribune, said national progress depends on addressing the issues faced by women.
“Following the July Revolution, tackling violence against women, particularly through combatting misinformation and disinformation, is essential,” he said.
The event called for stronger legislation, enhanced digital literacy, and collective action to ensure safer spaces for women both online and offline.