SAJJAD HOSSAIN

The government has taken an initiative to establish a dedicated cell under the Prime Minister’s Office to combat cyberbullying and strengthen digital safety, according to sources at the PMO.

The move, cleared in principle by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, aims to create a central mechanism to respond to online harassment, particularly on social media platforms, and to provide faster support to victims in a respectful and sensitive manner.

PMO sources said the proposed unit would be part of a broader plan to build a National Online Safety System, designed to offer a simple and accessible way for users to report cyber-related abuse.

The system is expected to include a 24-hour hotline, an online reporting portal, and trained response teams tasked with handling complaints related to cyberbullying, threats, impersonation, and the spread of private information.

Contacted by The Daily Star, an official involved in the planning said, “The idea is to make the reporting process easy and quick so that victims, especially women and young users, feel safe to come forward.”

Officials said details of the structure, staffing, and launch timeline of the PMO-led cell are expected to be finalised soon.

According to sources, the PMO will provide overall policy direction and oversee coordination, while several ministries and agencies are expected to be involved

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