Meta Interested in Dhaka Office

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has expressed interest in establishing an office or operational focal point in Dhaka, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed has said. The US-based technology company also discussed cooperation with Bangladesh on expanding e-commerce and online businesses, working with educational institutions, and addressing cybersecurity and digital harassment.

Shama Obaed disclosed the information at a press conference held at Bangladesh’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York on Tuesday, September 22. The briefing covered the first day of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s New York visit, including his participation in the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir, Prime Minister’s Education Adviser Mahdi Amin, Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Saleh Shibli and other officials were present.

Shama Obaed said the meeting with Meta was productive and included discussions on opening an office in Dhaka, with the company expressing interest. Bangladesh’s large Facebook user base was also discussed. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Prime Minister’s Adviser Rehan Asif Asad, Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Irene Khan and Deputy Permanent Representative A.K.M. Waheeduzzaman also attended the meeting.

According to the government statement, Shama Obaed invited Meta to establish an office in Bangladesh. The discussions also covered how Meta’s platforms and technologies could support Bangladeshi businesses, entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as the country’s e-commerce sector.

Shama said Bangladesh’s Cyber Security Act was also discussed with Meta. She said the company was interested in cooperating to expand e-commerce and online businesses in Bangladesh and in working with educational institutions. Meta also wants to work more closely with Bangladesh’s team in the future and will review when and how it could establish an office in Dhaka, she said.

Digital harassment was another issue discussed at the meeting. Shama said Meta was interested in working with the government and relevant agencies to help reduce digital harassment in Bangladesh’s social context. She also said Bangladesh urged Meta to take further steps to prevent online abuse and digital harassment.

She added that the government’s emphasis on e-commerce and technology in its first budget was also discussed with Meta. According to Shama, Meta appreciated the priority given to e-commerce and technology through budget allocations.

The discussion on a possible local Meta presence comes as the company is already pursuing initiatives aimed at strengthening digital capabilities among small and medium-sized businesses in Bangladesh. Meta and LightCastle Partners recently organized an AI and digital technology event in Dhaka, where Meta also announced local payment facilities enabling businesses to pay for advertising on its platforms through bKash.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir said a meeting with Dr Muhammad Yunus included general discussions on trade, investment and defence investment. He also said the Makkah Pact was not discussed.

He described the meeting as cordial and said there was hope that mutual and strategic partnerships would be strengthened in the future.

Humayun Kabir said the LDC graduation issue was not discussed in detail at the meeting. He said Bangladesh was presenting the post-COVID situation, the democratic deficit of the past 15 years, institutional fragility and, particularly, the energy crisis to the international community in the context of its application concerning LDC graduation.

He said Bangladesh was receiving support on these issues and that the government was positive about the matter. The energy crisis had also been presented positively at the relevant level of the United Nations General Assembly, he added.

//DBTech/FPL/AHC/SMIK//