Experts and development activists here underscored the need for enhancing digital literacy and strong monitoring of ocial media mechanism to combat cybercrime and propaganda everywhere in the society. They viewed Bangladesh needs to have separate cyber police to deal with cybercrimes and propaganda. The observation came at a seminar styled ‘International Youth Day- 2018: Safe Space for Youth” at Padma Garden Coffee Bar in the city yesterday afternoon. Centre for Communication and Development (CCD) organized the seminar in partnership with Democracy International Bangladesh and projectfor Engaging Youth People against Violent Extremism and Religious Militancy.
During his keynote presentation, Zahid Hassan, Partnership and Grant Manager of Democracy International Bangladesh, says cyber space and social media are instigating the youths towards involvement in extremism and militancy. So, effective steps should be taken to make the youth forces aware and alert in this regard.
He said digital literacy needs to be increased to remove cybercrime phobia. “We need to include ‘cyber security and propaganda’ in the textbooks of schools and colleges to create awareness in this regard,” he added.Zahid also said Bangladesh needs to have a cyber-information centre. “The government is enacting a digital security law where there will be a provision to establish a cyber-security council and a cyber-information centre will be set up in the possible council.” He told the meeting that the government has already planned to introduce asocial media mechanism, which is important to combat cybercrime and propaganda. “A process is on to form a team to scan social media propaganda and crimes with a view to containing these,” he said. Taking part in the discussion Shahana Parveen, Joint Director of CCD, said corporate houses and companies should raise awareness among their employees about preventive measures of cybercrimes.
She said Bangladesh urgently needs to have cyber police to deal with cybercrimes and propaganda. For lack of knowledge, common people cannot contain social networking propaganda.
Project Coordinators Mehedi Hassan Tanveer and Ayesha Siddiqua Anu also
spoke on the occasion.
Some 60 talented students from Rajshahi University, Varendra University, North Bengal International University and Rajshahi College joined the seminar, reports BSS from Rajshshai.
