Civic Defenders of Bangladesh Web Portal Debuts to Defend Digital and Democratic Rights
Bangladesh’s digital and civic space is under mounting pressure, with rising violence against journalists, increasing digital repression, gender-based disinformation, and growing constraints on freedom of expression. Against this backdrop, “Civic Defenders of Bangladesh” has been launched as a new web portal aimed at protecting freedom of expression, digital rights, journalists’ safety, and inclusive civic participation. The initiative comes from the advocacy organization Voice.
The portal was officially unveiled on Monday, September 29, at the YWCA auditorium in Dhaka’s Mohammadpur. The event introduced the platform to the media, key stakeholders, development partners, human rights activists, and the general public.
Panelists at the event included policy analyst Dr. Ananya Raihan, feminist rights activist Samina Yasmin, development communication expert Tony Michael Gomes, and indigenous rights activist Dalia Chakma.
Speakers praised Voice’s initiative as a timely and vital effort to highlight rights violations in the civic space. They also expressed concern that gender-based disinformation on social media remains a major obstacle to women and marginalized groups in exercising their democratic rights and engaging in participatory society.
Dr. Ananya Raihan stated, “To strengthen the protection of victims of rights violations in digital and civic space, Bangladesh requires some legal reforms or frameworks. In that sense, such web portals can serve as complementary tools to the legal system.”
Samina Yasmin observed, “Feminist movements and women’s rights organizations can use this portal to combat harmful gender-based disinformation campaigns, advocate for safe digital spaces, and ensure inclusive civic participation. This platform is also crucial for women journalists. In the media, we see differences in coverage between men and women. These disparities and disinformation must be highlighted on this web portal.”
Development communication expert Tony Michael Gomes added, “This web portal is a tool for advocacy and empowerment. Platforms like this can be used more effectively so that youth, grassroots communities, marginalized groups, and the wider civic space can counter misinformation. It can be used as an information tool.”
Indigenous rights activist Dalia Chakma said, “One of the strengths of this portal is that rights violations in civic space are verified and documented. Case studies of rights violations and gender-based disinformation in real-life digital and civic contexts will not only raise awareness but can also inspire meaningful change among marginalized groups and policymakers.”
Alongside the launch, Musharrat Mahera, Deputy Director of Voice, highlighted aspects of the project “Collaborative Actions for Promoting Digital and Civic Space and Combating Gender Disinformation.”
Voice’s Executive Director, Ahmed Swapan Mahmud, concluded, “This web portal will serve as a technology-based archive of incidents in the civic space at a given time. I believe it will be extremely useful as a consolidated resource for future researchers and rights activists.”
