LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Public awareness needed to prevent bullying
Thursday, 12 March 2026
Cyberbullying has become a serious social problem in recent years. The trend of bullying in society is steadily increasing, and in many cases it has almost become a norm. Bullying generally refers to physically or mentally harassing someone, humiliating them, mocking their appearance or personal matters, or spreading hurtful comments about them. In essence, it is a form of aggressive behaviour intended to insult, intimidate, or demean another person.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), bullying is a repeated aggressive behaviour that is most common among school children and often involves a power imbalance between the bully and the victim. However, people of any age, including teenagers and adults, can become victims.
Bullying can take several forms-physical, verbal, social, and cyber. Among these, cyberbullying has become particularly dangerous with the widespread use of the internet and social media. Cyberbullying involves using digital platforms to harass or humiliate someone by spreading rumours, revealing private information, sharing personal photos or videos without consent, or sending threatening and abusive messages.
Young people and women are especially vulnerable to cyberbullying, particularly in Bangladesh. According to data from Statista, about 76 percent of women in Bangladesh have experienced cyberbullying at some point. The psychological effects can be devastating, often leading to low self-esteem, anxiety, loss of confidence, and in extreme cases, severe emotional distress.
To raise awareness about this issue, Stop Cyberbullying Day was first observed on June 17, 2012, and is now marked annually on the third Friday of June. While the Bangladesh government has introduced legal measures to combat cyberbullying, greater public awareness is essential. Parents, teachers, and the media must work together to educate society and create a culture of respect and responsibility both online and offline.
Mahmudul Haq Hasan
mahmuddadc@gmail.com