We cannot take the recent threat of a cyber-attack taking place in Bangladesh on August 15 lightly.
From high-profile hacks that have targeted financial institutions and regulatory bodies to day-to-day cyber-crimes which continue to trouble the general populace, Bangladesh’s increasing digitization and internet penetration has led our country to become a target for hackers and other cyber criminals.
In the last decade or so, cyber-crime has become a hot method to commit violence against both individuals and groups. With the mass proliferation of the internet and more and more of our lives being accessible digitally, this was bound to happen. However, this does not mean we should heap the blame on digital connectivity. In fact, from making government services more accessible to connecting countries like Bangladesh with the rest of the world, more often than not, the internet has been a blessing.
This is why the authorities need to take threats like this more seriously.
Digitization and smart connectivity are irreplaceable parts of our lives, and in order to keep pace with the fourth industrial revolution, we need to double down on technology. However, such emphasis was bound to result in our country being more exposed to cyber-threats -- both domestic and foreign. It is pertinent that authorities focus on pro-active measures to tackle any kind of cyber threats and reinforce our cyber-security at a national level.
To that end, special attention has to be given to protection and the authorities need to strengthen the safety measures of our digital infrastructure. The authorities need to train relevant personnel in the investigation of cyber threats as well.
As we become smart, the criminals become smarter. We cannot allow bad actors to win this escalation.
Wednesday, March 19, 2025
