A visiting delegation from Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads, was hosted in Dhaka by Nahar Khan, Vice President of the Cosmos Group and Executive Editor of United News of Bangladesh (UNB).
The delegation, led by Simon Milner, Vice President of Public Policy for Asia-Pacific at Meta, met with policymakers, diplomats, business leaders, and members of civil society during a reception held in the capital. The visit comes amid ongoing discussions about digital regulation, platform safety, and innovation as Bangladesh advances its digital transformation.
Speaking on the occasion, Khan lauded the role of Meta's platforms in shaping communication, commerce, and civic participation across Bangladesh.
"From bustling Facebook groups that function like micro-economies to rural entrepreneurs running fully digital businesses through Messenger and Instagram, the digital landscape in Bangladesh is dynamic, creative and full of momentum," she said.
Meta's platforms are used by more than 4 billion people globally, including tens of millions in Bangladesh. Amid ongoing discussions worldwide on content moderation and digital accountability, Meta has expanded regional efforts in digital literacy, small business support, and online safety programs.
"Bangladesh has one of the youngest digital populations in the world, with over 60% under the age of 35. They are digitally expressive, entrepreneurial, politically aware, and deeply community-oriented," Khan noted.
She also referenced the work of UNB, the country's leading newsagency and long-time partner of the Associated Press. The first fully digitized newswire in the region, UNB has been a key player in promoting ethical journalism and adapting to new technologies including immersive and responsible storytelling.
"We see our role as a connector - across sectors, across stories, and across borders," Khan said, emphasizing Cosmos Group's (parent company of UNB) commitment to fostering trust, inclusion, and informed citizenship through its media and public dialogue initiatives.
She concluded, "Tonight's gathering is about sharing the energy of a country in motion. A country where users are more than just consumers - they are storytellers, innovators, and yes - some very serious scrollers."
Simon Milner, in his remarks, reaffirmed Meta's commitment to Bangladesh and its digital community. "We are learning so much and we really want to do our part in helping this country take the next step", Milner said. He acknowledged the dynamic nature of Bangladesh's online community and reiterated support for such efforts.
He acknowledged the dynamic nature of Bangladesh's online community and reiterated support for their efforts to take the country forward.
He said they had already held meetings with the Chief Adviser, and others, to this end.
The reception was attended by diplomats, political figures, academics, and figures from Bangladesh's media and cultural sectors, including former Home Minister Air Vice Marshal (Retd.) Altaf Hossain Chowdhury, former Science and Technology Minister Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan, former Foreign Adviser Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, and former Ambassador Tariq Karim.