Bangladesh’s Cybersecurity Crisis: Complacency Amid Constant Cyberattacks

“While new initiatives are being undertaken across the world in the field of cybersecurity, no such efforts are visible in Bangladesh. Cyberattacks are frequently observed from neighboring countries, and their frequency increases during various occasions. Yet, no steps are being taken to prevent such cyber assaults. Alarmingly, many hacker groups even announce in advance that they will launch attacks on critical services, and still, nothing is done to resist them. Inadequate cybersecurity measures and weak technological infrastructure are among the primary reasons.”

The article further notes that most Bangladeshi websites are inherently fragile. “Websites are often built cheaply, developed by weak programmers, created using identical templates, and hosted on substandard hosting services. Government and private institutions alike seem to believe their responsibilities end once a website is built. They show little concern for cybersecurity and are unwilling to invest in it.”

Highlighting the vulnerability of sensitive platforms, the writer points out: “Governmental and educational websites manage crucial tasks such as admission registration, applications, admission processes, and publishing results. However, hackers exploit their weaknesses to break into databases and leak sensitive information. Institutions remain unaware that their data has fallen into the wrong hands—and even when they discover it, they often remain silent.”

According to the piece, ensuring security requires systematic evaluation: “Once a website is built, its vulnerabilities must be assessed and necessary measures adopted. Yet, institutions in Bangladesh never carry out this process.”

The writer stresses the urgent need for a national effort: “To prevent cyberattacks, the Government of Bangladesh and its institutions must take stronger initiatives. The government should issue clear cybersecurity directives to organizations, conduct regular vulnerability assessments of websites and servers, engage skilled developers, and use the latest technologies and programming languages. Technology-driven safeguards must be applied. At the same time, emphasis should be given to developing skilled cybersecurity experts.”

The article also calls for international coordination: “IP addresses that are repeatedly used to launch cyberattacks must be monitored and blacklisted. The government should also work in collaboration with other countries to take action against offenders.”

Finally, the writer cautions that neglecting this field could jeopardize national progress: “Technology is an ever-evolving process. Without regular monitoring, observation, and adaptation, the country’s overall development will be hampered, and citizens’ data security will be violated.”

The opinion piece was authored by Arif Moinuddin, Cybersecurity Specialist at Decodes Lab Limited.

Note: The views expressed in this opinion are solely those of the author. Digital Bangla Media bears no responsibility. As a reflection of pluralism, this article is published without editorial intervention. Any resentment or displeasure arising from it is purely personal.