A Public Dialogue on Digital Rights was convened today at Adabar in the capital, bringing together diverse stakeholders, with VOICE, a rights-based organisation committed to promoting freedom of expression, digital rights, and inclusive civic spaces, serving as the organizer. The initiative is supported by Access Now. The dialogue brought together a wide cross-section of participants, including civil society organisations, activists, media professionals, women and youth representatives, lawyers, academicians, and indigenous leaders, marking a significant step toward strengthening collective action on digital rights in Bangladesh.
The event provided an essential platform for participants to share experiences and reflect on the rapidly evolving digital landscape in the country. Discussions centred on key concerns such as online freedom of expression, digital democracy, netizenship, privacy and data protection, digital surveillance, cyber harassment, shrinking civic space, and the increasing vulnerabilities of marginalized communities, including women, indigenous communities, gender diverse individuals, and human rights defenders.
Delivering the keynote presentation, Musharrat Mahera, Deputy Director, Programmes at VOICE, highlighted how digital rights intersect with broader human rights protections. “The digital sphere is no longer separate from our everyday lives. When voices are silenced online, communities are silenced offline. It is urgent that we ensure digital safety, uphold privacy, and safeguard every individual’s right to speak, organize, and participate freely,” she said.
The panel discussion featured distinguished speakers who brought sociocultural, policy, and development perspectives to the dialogue. Afroja Shoma, gender and media researcher, stressed the importance of rights-based legal reforms, noting, “People ought to speak their minds freely online, yet in today’s reality, instead of finding safety in digital spaces, they all too often face persecution and detention.”
Joining from Democracy International, Aminul Ehsan, Deputy Chief of Party, underscored the need for evidence-based policymaking and multi-stakeholder collaboration. He noted, “Digital rights cannot be defended in silos. We need coordinated efforts between civil society, policymakers, media, and communities to ensure an open and democratic digital future.”
Activist Arif Hasan emphasized how regulations must uphold civic freedoms rather than restrict them. “Marginalized groups must engage in inter-community dialogues to understand each other’s digital struggles and challenges; only then can they raise a collective voice. By knowing each other’s stories, hardships, and resilience, they can truly stand in solidarity,” he stated.
The dialogue also included an intervention from Ahmed Swapan Mahmud, Executive Director of VOICE, who reiterated the organisation’s long-standing commitment to defending digital freedom, media rights, and the safety of frontline defenders. “At a time when digital repression and disinformation are intensifying, it is vital that we stand together to protect the rights of those most at risk. Today’s dialogue reflects our collective resolve to push for transparency, accountability, and rights-based governance in the digital realm,” he said.
Throughout the session, participants exchanged practical insights, shared lived experiences, and identified opportunities for coordinated advocacy. They stressed the importance of inclusive digital policies, transparency in governance, robust media and information literacy, and targeted protection mechanisms for women, journalists, indigenous activists, and other disadvantaged communities who disproportionately face online harassment and threats.
The public dialogue concluded with a shared commitment from all stakeholders to continue collaborative engagement and push for reforms that uphold the principles of openness, accountability, and human rights in Bangladesh’s digital ecosystem.