The people of Dhaka are rather fond of their social media.
The Global Digital Statshot Q2 2017 report shows that the capital city has the second-highest number of Facebook users in the world.
Whatever the naysayers may say, this is a good thing.
Social media platforms like Facebook represent the communications paradigm of the future -- already Facebook is widely being used for business communications, not just as a marketing tool but also to more efficiently manage companies.
Not to mention, social media can bring together people from disparate parts of the globe, and help people share knowledge with each other.
If the government wants a truly Digital Bangladesh, it is time to embrace these new technologies, instead of fearing them.
In the past, platforms like Facebook and YouTube have been blocked by the authorities in response to threats, but we cannot continue with that line of thinking.
Social media platforms can be used for good as well as for ill, and shutting them down for all will prove counter-productive.
The advanced nations of the world have decided to embrace technology, and protect the freedom and privacy of users -- and Bangladesh should do the same.
When done right, social media can be a force for upholding human rights -- we have seen citizen journalism through Facebook and Twitter create movements and raise awareness in ways that would not be possible through conventional media.
Now that so much of Dhaka is already online, the next step would be to spread internet connectivity to the rest of the country, so that no one gets left out of the digital revolution.
