Tarique Rahman unveils a five-point strategy aimed at strengthening women’s safety in the digital era

As digital technology reshapes societies across the globe, the BNP has underscored the urgent need to safeguard women in both physical and digital spaces, warning that Bangladesh cannot advance while half its population lives in fear.

In a post from his verified Facebook account today (20 November), Bangladesh Nationalist Party Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman wrote: “It is undeniable that the digital world now influences every aspect of our lives — from daily routines to global engagement. The pace at which technology has transformed both the world and Bangladesh is impossible to ignore.”

Rahman noted that he and his wife often reflect on how different the world is for their daughter compared to their own upbringing — a feeling shared by many parents. “The opportunities are greater than ever, but so are the risks,” he said.

He warned that Bangladesh cannot progress if women continue to face daily harassment, intimidation, bullying, and violence simply for expressing themselves, working, studying, or trying to live freely.

“This is not the Bangladesh we dream of, nor the future our young girls deserve,” he added, stressing that women must feel safe everywhere — online and offline, at home, in public, and throughout their professional and personal lives.

Rahman set out five urgent priorities the BNP aims to pursue:

1. A National Online Safety System — A streamlined mechanism for women to report cyberbullying, threats, impersonation, and data leaks, backed by a 24/7 hotline, an online portal, and trained responders. Partnerships with major platforms would strengthen Bangla-language moderation and ensure swift removal of abusive content.

2. Protection Protocols for Women in Public Life — National guidelines, rapid legal and digital support, and confidential reporting options for women facing attacks as journalists, students, activists, or community leaders. No woman should be silenced for taking part in public life.

3. Digital Safety Education — Practical digital-safety training in schools and universities, with trained teachers serving as “safety focal points” and annual campaigns to help young people navigate the online world confidently.

4. Stronger Community-Level Responses to Harassment and Violence — Community help desks, safer transport routes, improved lighting, and trauma-informed responders to make daily life safer and more predictable for women.

5. A Nationwide Drive for Women’s Leadership and Participation — Expanded leadership training, mentoring networks, and broader access to childcare in schools, offices, and workplaces to help women lead, achieve, and contribute fully. “When women rise, the nation rises,” he said.

Rahman concluded with a call for unity, saying that regardless of politics, religion, ethnicity, or gender, Bangladesh must come together to build a country where women are safe, supported, and empowered.

“Let us work together to make that future a reality — for our daughters and for the generations to come,” he said.