A report published in The Daily Star in March describes a case from Bagerhat where a woman was blackmailed using a video recorded without her knowledge. When she refused to comply, the man sent doctored clips to her husband, who beat her and later filed for divorce. Her tormentor was never brought to justice. Hers is just one of thousands of cases of technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) surfacing across digital Bangladesh.
The past decade of Bangladesh’s digital transformation has been commendable, bringing banking, education, business and government services within reach from home. But this rapid connectivity has also given rise to the uncomfortable reality of TFGBV. The platforms meant to amplify women’s voices are increasingly turning into tools of harassment, control and silence.
The recent online and offline reactions that ensued after a primary school headteacher in Sylhet’s Fenchuganj uploaded a video of herself walking on her school ground with a popular song as background score show the extent of the problem. Although the teacher uploaded the clip on her social media account, it was later circulated from a Facebook page with negative and misleading commentary, leading to trolling, personal attacks, and allegations of violating social media guidelines for government employees. Authorities initially considered investigating whether the video violated service rules, but later decided against a probe. Meanwhile, the teacher filed a general diary with police, seeking legal action against cyberbullying. This demonstrated how, for women, the online world has become a place not just of opportunity. They can become targets of public scrutiny, harassment, and moral policing, even when they have done nothing wrong.
According to the 2024 national survey on violence against women, conducted jointly by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), more than 8 percent of women using technology have been victims of unwanted sexual messages, blackmail, or image-based violence in their lifetime, and this rate has increased by more than 5 percent in the past year. Since it is a survey, the extent of such online abuse may be worse.
In fact, Bangladesh Police’s Cyber Support for Women wing received more than 60,000 complaints in 2024 alone. Of these, 41 percent were related to personal information leaks, 18 percent to Facebook account hacking, and 17 percent to blackmail. Yet most victims do not file any complaints, fearing social stigma and lack of trust in the justice system.
Notably, there is a large gap between the number of men and women in internet and smartphone usage in Bangladesh. Yet, women with no digital connection are also indirectly at risk. They too are subjected to threats of leaking information or images online by people they know. According to the survey, women between the ages of 20 and 24 are most vulnerable to digital violence, which shows that as the online presence of the younger generation increases, so does the risk.
However, there are some recourse. The first few hours are crucial if you are a victim of TFGBV. It is important to save screenshots, messages, transaction information, or evidence of the relevant profile. If there is a financial connection, the bank or mobile financial service provider should be informed immediately, so that the transaction can be temporarily suspended. Passwords for email, social media and other accounts should be changed immediately and two-factor security verification should be put in place.
Complaints can be made directly to the Police Cyber Support for Women through their hotline (01320000888). The Cyber Police Center of the CID also works to investigate cyber crimes and provide digital forensic assistance across the country. Complaints can be made through 01320010148.
In urgent cases, it is also possible to contact the national emergency service 999. Filing a General Diary (GD) at the nearest police station is also an important step, as the basis for subsequent legal proceedings is often formed from this initial document. Speed is the biggest helper of the victim in this entire process. The sooner evidence is preserved and a complaint is filed, the easier it is for investigators to identify the perpetrator.
The Cyber Security Act, 2026, repealed many controversial sections of the previous Digital Security Act and the Cyber Security Act, 2023. Section 25 of the act defines publishing or threatening to publish images or videos for the purpose of blackmail, sexual harassment, revenge pornography, or sextortion as an offence, punishable by a maximum of two years in prison; the punishment can increase to five years if the victim is a woman or a child.
However, legal experts and human rights activists have warned that the language of the new law remains unclear in many places, which could create opportunities for abuse in the future. Real protection depends on increasing the number of cyber tribunals, training investigators, and speeding up the trial process.
Cybersecurity starts with awareness. Most technology-based violence is caused by exploiting people’s trust rather than technical vulnerabilities. Using strong and different passwords for different accounts, enabling two-factor authentication, and not clicking on links from unknown sources can provide some protection. It is also important to be aware of who you are sharing personal photos or information with and to regularly review your social media privacy settings.
Teaching children and adolescents digital literacy and safe online behaviour both at home and school is an effective long-term prevention. However, technology companies also have a responsibility. They must create opportunities to identify fake accounts, enable rapid reporting systems, and implement effective complaint filing opportunities in local languages, such as Bangla. Non-governmental organisations should continue to work with journalists, lawyers, and content creators, training them and creating awareness programmes in various districts. This will help obtain the real picture of TFGBV at the grassroots level.
Technology-facilitated gender-based violence is not just an individual problem; it is a structural challenge that requires a coordinated effort by the government, law enforcement, judiciary, technology institutions and civil society. Creating an environment where victims can report without shame and fear, ensuring prompt and sensitive investigations, and proper enforcement of the law are the pillars on which women’s safety in digital Bangladesh depends. While technology can be a tool for empowerment, it can also become a new means of oppression in the absence of awareness and appropriate policies. Bangladesh is now standing at the crossroads of these two realities.
Surja Mandal is an LLB student at the World University of Bangladesh. He can be reached at [email protected].
Views expressed in this article are the author's own.
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