Protecting the Online Voices of Women in Politics in Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, as in the EU, women in politics face online harassment that targets, defames and seeks to silence them. On 9 April, the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD) Bangladesh hosted an orientation workshop and the launch of a digital literacy handbook on “Protection against Online Gender-Based Attacks” under the AHEAD Bangladesh Project, supported by the European Union. Download the handbook here.

The event brought together women political leaders from across the political spectrum — including Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), National Citizens Party (NCP), Bangladesh Jamaat-E-Islami (BJI), as well as independent candidates, former MPs, and women reserve seat candidates — who shared powerful, first-hand experiences of how online platforms are often used to target, defame, and silence women in politics.

Despite these challenges, the discussion was forward-looking and solution-oriented, with participants emphasising the importance of collective efforts to create safer digital spaces.

Digital Literacy Handbook

A key output of the workshop was the launch of a dedicated digital literacy handbook designed to equip women political leaders with practical tools and guidance for navigating online threats. The handbook outlines key steps for responding to digital violence, starting with assessing immediate safety risks and taking protective actions such as blocking offenders and seeking support. It emphasises the importance of preserving evidence through detailed documentation, followed by reporting abuse using platform tools and relevant authorities. It also highlights the need to seek legal assistance to understand rights and pursue justice, and to access psychosocial support through counselling and community networks for emotional well-being.

Senior representatives from both the European Union and the Netherlands underscored their shared commitment to women’s political participation. EU Ambassador Michael Miller affirmed that the European Union is a firm believer in women’s full and meaningful participation in political life — at home and in Bangladesh. This sentiment was echoed by Cor Stouten, First Secretary for Political Affairs from the Dutch Embassy, who in his closing remarks called for a concerted effort to ensure women have safe political space.

Key Recommendations

Stronger party accountability, better law enforcement, speedy local-language moderation on very large online platforms, and expanded digital literacy were among the priorities that emerged. Specifically, participants called for:

• Stronger guidance and accountability from party leadership for online conduct;
• Increased collaboration amongst political parties;
• Improved enforcement of existing laws;
• Urgent need for local-language moderation on platforms like Meta;
• Expanded digital literacy programmes, strengthened legal and helpline support, and extending such initiatives beyond Dhaka.

The active participation from former Members of Parliament, central political leaders, and emerging women candidates generated a sense of solidarity and shared commitment. Many expressed hope that this event, if continued, will serve as a foundation for enhanced collaboration in the future.

Together, we move closer to building a safer, more inclusive political environment – both online and offline.

This workshop was part of the AHEAD Bangladesh project, supported by the European Union.