This is a matter of great concern that female students of school, college, and university, professionals, and even housewives are becoming the victims of cyberbullying everyday in Bangladesh.
Cyberbullying is an escalating crisis in Bangladesh, and young women—whether students, professionals, or homemakers—are frequently its primary targets. More alarmingly, this abuse often comes not from strangers, but from those they call friends. Platforms like Facebook and Messenger, originally meant for connection and communication, have now become spaces where subtle yet damaging harassment takes place, often hidden behind screens and within closed chat groups.
We are deeply alarmed by the rise in online abuse against women, particularly those aged 14 to 22. Studies show that nearly 80% of cyberbullying victims in Bangladesh are female, with the majority of perpetrators being youths. This abuse is not limited to jokes—it includes stalking, sexual harassment, body-shaming, and character attacks. Such behaviour can lead to depression, anxiety, and, tragically, in some cases, suicide.
Even more disturbing is that much of this bullying happens within the boundaries of friendship groups. In Messenger chats or Facebook groups, female students are often singled out, mocked for their appearance, criticised for their academic performance, or excluded for simply expressing a different opinion. It’s frequently passed off as “banter”, but when one individual is consistently ridiculed, it crosses the line into harassment.
This form of bullying is difficult to detect because it’s private, subtle, and often brushed aside. Victims may second-guess themselves, thinking, “Maybe I’m overreacting” or “They’re just joking.” But the emotional impact is real—and lasting.
Social media removes the human touch from communication. Unlike in-person conversations where tone and body language can offer context, a cruel message or meme online can feel harsh and isolating. The reactions—whether laughing emojis, dismissive comments, or complete silence—can amplify the victim’s pain. And because digital messages can be read and re-read, the hurt lingers far longer than a passing comment in real life. A particularly distressing example is the rise of anonymous Facebook pages like Crush and Confession in Bangladesh, where female students from both public and private universities are regularly harassed. Vulgar posts, explicit comments, and anonymous character assassinations have left many feeling unsafe and vulnerable. Yet, most of these women do not come forward, afraid of stigma or further humiliation.
Universities, which should serve as safe and intellectually nurturing spaces, have unfortunately become battlegrounds for online abuse and power play. In public universities especially, student politics and toxic hierarchies have created an atmosphere that is far from welcoming, particularly for women.
To counter this growing threat, the Bangladesh Police have introduced the Police Cyber Support for Women unit. This initiative provides legal guidance, technical support, and aims to raise awareness around online safety. While commendable, more needs to be done. Law enforcement must ensure women feel supported and secure when filing complaints. Just as importantly, awareness campaigns must reach schools, colleges, and homes so that girls and young women are equipped to protect their digital privacy and well-being.
It’s vital that social media users, particularly young women, learn not to share sensitive information like passwords—even with partners—and that they understand the risks of oversharing online. But beyond caution, we must cultivate a culture of respect and empathy.
So, what can we do—individually and collectively?
Acknowledge the problem: Bullying among friends is real, and it happens in places we least expect—within private chats, comment threads, or shared joke circles. Reflect on our own actions: Ask yourself—are your jokes hurtful? Do you often pick on the same person? Are you standing by silently while others mock someone?
Speak out: If someone is being targeted unfairly, say something. Even a simple “That’s not okay” can disrupt the pattern. Silence protects bullies. Support the victim: Message them privately. Let them know they’re not alone, that you’ve noticed, and that you care. That small gesture can make a huge difference.
Educate and empower: Parents, schools, and communities must promote digital empathy—understanding how our online actions affect real people. Social media companies also have a role to play, with better tools to report abuse in private groups and algorithms that can detect harmful patterns.
Most importantly, we must rethink what friendship truly means. Real friends do not make you feel small, anxious, or excluded.
Friendship is built on respect, empathy, and mutual support. If someone regularly puts you down or treats you as the punchline, it’s time to question whether they are truly friends.
Harassment doesn’t always begin with strangers. Sometimes, it starts with a joke from someone close. It’s time to break the silence, call out this toxic behaviour, and work together to build a culture—online and offline—where kindness, not cruelty, is the norm.
Since 2016, gender-based case consideration has shown that 70 percent of women have faced cyber bullying, while the number for men has been 30 percent so far, according to media reports.
As per the Cyber Security Act 2023, cyber bullying is not a cognizable offense. If the victim complains to the police, there is a provision to take the accused into police custody, subject to the permission of the court.
Cybercrime can be reduced by increasing social awareness using various social media alongside mainstream media. A research report titled "Cyber Crime Tendency in Bangladesh 2023" conducted under the Cyber Crime Awareness Foundation revealed that out of 406 cases of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) in two and a half years, 98 were online fraud cases, which is about 24.13 percent of the total cases.
Then, there were 97 (23.89 percent) incidents of online harassment by taking control (hacking) of various media, including Facebook.
Apart from this, there were 78 cases (19.21 percent) of defamatory statements and dissemination of false information online, while 72 cases (17.73 percent) of fraud in mobile phone financial services.
Besides, 61 (about 15.02 percent) cases have been filed for other cybercrimes.
University students top the list of victims, and that is why more awareness activities could be conducted among them.
The same password shouldn't be used repeatedly. Many people get into various troubles, including forgetting complex and long passwords. In that case, any phrase of your choice can be used as a password. In addition, two-factor authentication or two levels of security on ID login should be used.
Social media should be used with utmost caution. Everyone should regularly visit social media settings to read privacy features and learn about newly added features. Passwords should be changed at least three times a year.
According to experts, it is possible to mitigate cyber bullying by creating social awareness. Both men and women are affected by cyber bullying, which degrades a person socially, psychologically and professionally, and in some cases, the victims have to face long-term problems.
Sheikh Mehzabin Chitra is a University Correspondent of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST), Bangladesh Post, and a Masters student of the Anthropology Department of the institution.
