Harassment of women and children and fraud and blackmail on social media and different online platforms were becoming a rising concern, speakers said at a workshop in Rajshahi on Saturday.
The Rajshahi Metropolitan Police and non-governmental organisation Dola Mohila Unnayan Sangstha held the 鈥榃orkshop on research tools validation and constructive feedback聽from stakeholders and civil society鈥� at a restaurant in the city as part of a research.
According to the findings of the research titled 鈥楽afe cyberspaces for women and children: challenges of existing technological and legal perspectives鈥�, women and children were most often harassed through fake IDs, blackmail using personal photos, obscene messages and videos, abuse on Messenger and WhatsApp, and financial frauds.
Many victims refrained from speaking out publicly, which encouraged perpetrators to act with greater impunity, the research found, recommending awareness campaigns to ensure protection.
Presiding over the workshop, RMP commissioner Mohammad Abu Sufian said that ensuring a safe internet environment for women and children was everyone鈥檚 responsibility.
鈥楢wareness must start from families and extend to schools, law enforcement and all levels of society. At the same time, users themselves must learn ways to stay safe online,鈥� he said
Student Prarthana Fardeen Mithila said that many girls of their age often received obscene messages from fake IDs, leaving them distressed.
She said that parents鈥� involvement could help them in finding solutions.
In the open discussion, Kaler Kantho bureau chief Dr Sadikul Islam Swapan said that female journalists, students and professionals were being disproportionately targeted with technology weaponised against them.
鈥榃hile technology has brought speed and convenience, it has also become a major threat. Children鈥檚 use of the internet and mobile phones should be closely monitored by families and that cybercrime units should be contacted when necessary,鈥� he said.
The speakers unanimously concluded that ensuring a safe cyberspace for women and children needed immediate action.
They stressed the need for stronger law enforcement capacity, improved technical readiness, simplified complaint procedures, and wider social awareness.
Among others, Rajshahi Bar Association general secretary Jamshed Ali, Varendra University journalism teacher Mostafizur Rahman, Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust Rajshahi coordinator lawyer Samina Begum, and RMP deputy commissioner (sadar) Mohammad Khorshed Alams spoke at the workshop.