Biman Bans WhatsApp for Work, Backs Microsoft Teams for Security

Following in the footsteps of countries like China, North Korea, Iran, and Syria, Biman Bangladesh Airlines has imposed restrictions on the use of WhatsApp for official communication. Aimed at enhancing cybersecurity and safeguarding corporate data, the national carrier has advised its staff to transition to Microsoft Teams for all professional communication.

In a recent official notification, the IT department of Biman stated, “In the interest of protecting the corporate network’s cybersecurity and data security, restrictions have been imposed on the use of WhatsApp. Instead, employees are advised to use the Microsoft Teams platform for corporate communication, which is internationally recognized as a secure and professional medium.”

The notice added that Microsoft Teams allows users to easily open accounts with personal email and mobile numbers. It offers features such as text messaging, voice and video calls, and file sharing—tools that make daily corporate communication more effective and secure.

Highlighting the global shift, the notice also mentioned that many renowned institutions and government organizations have already excluded WhatsApp from official work due to security concerns. “Being a third-party app, WhatsApp can pose significant risks in terms of information security,” the notification said.

Commenting on the matter, ABM Rawsan Kabir, General Manager of Biman’s Public Relations Department, confirmed that the airline has formally signed an agreement with Microsoft to use its platform. “The platform facilitates online meetings and communication,” he noted, adding that Biman had already disabled WhatsApp on official desktop computers several months ago.