‘70pc women harassed online belong to 15-25 age groups’

Empowerment of women is not possible without the use of technology

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FE Team | Published: September 25, 2019 00:11:37 | Updated: September 25, 2019 16:00:21

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Additional Deputy Commissioner of the Cyber Security and Crime Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Mishuk Chakma has said 70 per cent of the women, reportedly harassed online in the city, are in the 15-25 age groups, reports UNB.
Most of these women are victims of sexual harassment, hacking, cyber-pornography and blackmailing.
Presenting the statistics, Mishuk Chakma said among the harassment allegations and cases that come to the country's only cybercrime tribunal compiled, hacking is 20 per cent, fake ID 20 per cent, harassment/defamation 18 per cent, cyber pornography 14 per cent, financial fraud by mobile 14 per cent, blackmail/extortion 7.0 per cent, terrorist activity 1.0 per cent and the other allegations 6.0 per cent.
''The scenario is only of capital Dhaka. The situation outside Dhaka is almost the same. However, most victims of online harassment do not go to the police station," Mishuk was quoted as saying at a meeting titled 'Technology Mediated Violence Against Women in Bangladesh', organised by ARTICLE 19 on Monday.
Women journalists, online activists, women human rights activists and cultural activists from various districts of the country participated in the event, said ARTICLE 19, an international organisation working on freedom of speech, on Tuesday.
The discussion was presided over by Faruq Faisel, Bangladesh and South Asia Regional Director, ARTICLE 19 while Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua and Simum Reza Talukder, Senior Lecturer of Department of Law, Brac University were present as discussants.
Mentioning limitations in cybercrime investigations, Mishuk said the police station at the local level does not have adequate training on cyber issues.
At present, initiatives are being taken to provide training on how to conduct a primary investigation into allegations of online harassment at all levels of police.
"Seeking information from Facebook authorities to investigate particular allegations is not easily available.
Besides, those who spread rumors and engage in crime online from outside the country are difficult to bring under the law,'' he said.
It is not possible for the police alone to deal with cybercrime. This requires the collective efforts of the family, the private sector and the civil society, Mishuk opined.