Cyber harassment against women and our legal shortcomings

A case was recently filed under the Cyber Security Ordinance 2025 after a manipulated image of a female faculty member of the University of Dhaka had been posted on the internet with derogatory captions and remarks. This incident pointed towards the invasive abuse of image-manipulation technologies and digital defamation as novel weapons of sexual harassment. Online sexual harassment, launched in particular against women continue to be reported nationwide. These are not isolated cases; these are the symptoms of an escalating crisis of the digital spaces and tools being weaponised against women.

Notably, the online spaces are but continuation and replication of our offline structures, and one of the most evident categories to understand this is gender. Women who engage in the public life, be it in politics, journalism, entertainment or activism, are sexually abused online to ensure that they or are "taught a lesson". Such kinds of digital gender violence compromise the process of democracy, liberty of expression and people's rights and security.

Several legal provisions provisions have been enacted in Bangladesh that target the up-and-coming challenges in the sphere of cyber security and in controlling criminal actions in digital space. For example, the otherwise problematic Digital Security Act 2018 had made it a criminal offence to publish offensive, false or defamatory digital material under sections 25 and 29. Moreover, it had criminalised speeches that call for enmity among classes or communities, or unrest under section 31. However, it was criticised for being poorly drafted and due to its potential ability to curtail freedom of speech. Subsequently, it was replaced with the Cyber Security Act 2023, which brought some minor changes by introducing lesser degrees of punishment and more bailable offences.

Finally, the Cyber Protection Ordinance 2025 replaced the CSA with a more reform-oriented approach towards dealing with the digital space and cyber security issues. It enshrines the right to access the internet, punishment for cyber harassment of women and children, and also criminalises harmful or intimidating materials generated or edited by AI. The law, nevertheless, continues to be critiqued for its ambiguous language, absence of independent oversight by regulatory organisations, and for potentially being open to political abuse.

Besides the cyber laws, criminal laws in general also are relevant, although not effective, in this context. The Penal Code 1860, under sections 354 and 509, deal with offences that infringe the "modesty of a woman". However, the Code, being a colonial-era law, is not as such directly applicable to digital abuse and its provisions can only be made applicable through a wider interpretation.

The Prevention of Women and Children Repression Act 2000 intends to save women and children against physical, sexual and psychological abuse. The law has prescribed harsh penalties and quite commendable victim-responsive approaches. Although the provisions offer somewhat effective solutions concerning traditional kinds of abuse and gender-related violence, its stipulations were not framed keeping the digital space in mind. Section 8 of the Pornography Control Act 2012 deals with various kinds of cybercrimes against women. However, it mostly focuses on punishment but not on protection of survivors. Indeed, the absence of a rights-based approach towards the victim further aggravate its loopholes.

Indeed, we have many laws; but in practice, they are rarely enforced. There is a lack of trained officers in digital crime investigation, as well as a lack of forensic tools and victim-sensitive procedures. When it comes to gender-based harassment, a victim tends to fear humiliation and further harassment. Therefore, most women do not report such incidents considering justice will be served slow or not at all. This particularly applies to women who face gender-based threats, including sexual abuse, rape threats, or non-consensual circulation of images. The Police Cyber Support for Women is a move in the right direction, but its scope and capabilities are far too limited compared to the issue at hand. Furthermore, the specific nature of gender-based digital violence, as has been set out above, is not fully acknowledged in our policy-legal landscape.

While the existing laws have to be streamlined acknowledging the nuances of online sexual harassment and other digital gender-based violence. Pertinently, digital violence based on gender must be spelt out not as an add-on to the general provisions. Threats that are serious should receive criminal penalties, whereas other cases should receive greater civil redress, including compensation, and administrative penalties.

Bangladesh also requires an institutional overhaul. The cyber units should be well-trained in digital forensics, gender sensitivity, and victim-centred approaches. The courts should be trained on various novel kinds of digital crimes and harms. The government should also design a standard operating procedures about how agencies should respond to cyber violence, in a time-sensitive manner. Workplaces and educational institutions should come up with systemic and sustainable measures that can assist electronic harassment victims. There should be clear reporting channels, accessible legal services, and other privacy-sensitive processes so that victims feel encouraged to report crimes.

The final component that our legal and policy framework requires is digital literacy. Individual awareness would empower people to identify and protest harassment, report cases earlier and access institutional resources. Use of social media platforms to improve reporting mechanisms should also be promoted and cooperation with national facilities should be mandated in effectively and promptly taking down online threats, doxing, or revenge porn.

Bangladesh is at a critical crossroads. The promises of justice and good governance will never be fulfilled unless online spaces are safe, gender-inclusive and rights-respecting. Sexual threats for exercising democratic agency must in no case be tolerated. Online harassment is not tantamount to mere online nuisance. It is an impediment to equality, democratic engagement, and fairness. To achieve this end, the law must be clear, proportionate and enforceable, supported by trained institutions, accessible reporting mechanisms and a gender-responsive public policy strategy. If Bangladesh is to promote democratic participation, safeguard freedom of expression and ensure that women can exist online without fear, its cyber governance must shift from reactive criminalisation to proactive protection. The challenge is substantial, but so is the necessity.

The writer is Associate Professor, Department of Law, University of Chittagong.