ARTICLE 19 has urged the Bangladesh government to develop and implement a national plan of action to counter hate speech.
The human rights organization said that Kenya recently became the first country in the world to declare a national plan of action for the purpose.
According to ARTICLE 19, the Bangladesh government and other concerned stakeholders must step up efforts to promote inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue and tolerance that counters hate speech.
The organization raised the issue on the eve of the UN's “International Day for Countering Hate Speech”, which will be marked for the first time on Saturday.
Faruq Faisel, regional director of ARTICLE 19 South Asia, said the exponential spread and proliferation of hate speech is becoming a deep concern in Bangladesh and around the world.
Although hate speech is not a new phenomenon, the scale and impacts of hate speech have amplified due to the advent of new technologies and online communication, he added.
Faruq mentioned that, in Bangladesh, physical and verbal attacks against religious and ethnic minorities are on the rise due to the influence of hate speech, especially online.
ARTICLE 19 called on the government and other concerned stakeholders to ensure that religions, beliefs and ethnicity are not used to violate human rights.
It also urged all to combat hate speech, which is a threat to the human rights of the citizens of Bangladesh.