Staff Reporter:
Canadian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Ajit Singh yesterday said ensuring a safe and open digital space is critical ahead of Bangladesh’s 2026 national elections.
“With elections coming up, ensuring that the digital space remains safe, inclusive, and open is more im-portant than ever,” he said at the inauguration of “Build4Democracy” Hackathon at a city hotel to strengthen the country’s digital resilience.
The envoy described digital integrity as essential to protecting public trust and democratic participation.
The High Commissioner said the hackathon represented more than technological creativity, stressing its role in shaping democratic resilience.
“We are not here merely to encourage innovation for innovation’s sake. We are here to encourage im-pactful innovation that strengthens people’s voices and public trust,” he said.
He noted that Bangladesh’s fast-expanding digital sphere brings both opportunities for transparency and challenges such as misinformation, harassment, and declining trust.
