Bangladesh Urges Global Action for Online Child Safety

Addressing the evolving complexities of the internet and rapid advances in artificial intelligence, Bangladesh has called for enhanced multilateral cooperation, unified stakeholder frameworks, and the exchange of global best practices to safeguard children in the digital sphere.

The call was delivered by Bangladesh Minister of Posts, Telecommunications, Information Technology, and Science and Technology Faqir Mahbub Anam at the high-level business IT breakfast titled “Digital Childhood Without Borders: Best International Practices for Child Safety Online,” held in Moscow on Thursday (October 8, 2026),, Russia. Representing the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, the Minister extended appreciation on behalf of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to the Global Digital Forum and the Russian Alliance for the Protection of Children in the Digital Environment for convening the session, which gathered official delegations and experts from over 100 countries.

Minister Faqir Mahbub Anam observed that Bangladesh is navigating an accelerated nationwide digital transformation, expanding internet accessibility for children to advance their education and personal growth. However, this transition concurrently exposes minors to sophisticated, rapidly shifting cyber risks. He stressed that preserving child online safety cannot remain the sole domain of parents or educators; rather, it demands collective accountability across governments, online platforms, technology developers, and civil society.

Regarding legislative frameworks, he noted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, Bangladesh is strengthening national enforcement mechanisms, including the Cyber Security Act and related digital safety statutes, to curb online exploitation and secure minor data privacy. Nonetheless, domestic legislation alone cannot resolve transnational cyber challenges, making cross-border knowledge exchange, technical harmonization, and scalable international interventions imperative.

Reviewing the Draft Joint Statement and Terms of Reference of the proposed Global Alliance to Protect Children in the Digital Environment, the Minister congratulated the Russian Federation on leading the initiative. He remarked that the foundational document reflects an integrated, child-rights-centric design anchored in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. He reaffirmed Bangladesh’s support for its three core pillars: prioritizing the best interests of the child, establishing shared multi-stakeholder accountability, and advancing international collaboration through the exchange of verified practices.

He emphasized the necessity of equitable regional representation, particularly for the Asia-Pacific region, within the Alliance's governing structure. Such inclusivity ensures that the operational realities and policy challenges of developing economies like Bangladesh directly inform global governance frameworks. In parallel, Bangladesh welcomed the establishment of the Digital Childhood Safety Index alongside dedicated research-sharing networks.

Underscoring human capacity, Faqir Mahbub Anam noted that scaling digital literacy among children, educators, and guardians forms the primary line of defense. Equipping communities with critical competencies aligned with the pace of AI-driven ecosystems is essential to preemptively counter cyberbullying, data harvesting, and malicious digital exposure.

Reaffirming high-level commitment, the Minister expressed Bangladesh's intent to work with the Alliance to neutralize child exploitation, privacy infringements, and algorithmic hazards, highlighting the platform’s role in bridging sovereign legislation with international cooperation. Concluding his remarks, he stated that Bangladesh stands ready to collaborate with global partners to guarantee that every child, regardless of border or nationality, navigates the digital frontier securely and creatively, ensuring that the future digital ecosystem is not merely interconnected, but resilient, equitable, and child-safe.

//DBTech/MAAM/SME/MSI//