Staff Reporter:
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Thursday warned that the government will take legal action against Cyber criminals and online propagandists, saying offenders will be brought to justice through fair investigations.
He made the remarks during a courtesy meeting with Palestinian Ambassador to Bangladesh Yousef S. Y. Ramadan at the Secretariat in Dhaka.
The minister said Bangladesh is a progressive and liberal Muslim-majority country, and any attempt to misrepresent the country or tarnish its international image through social media propaganda would be dealt with firmly.
“We will identify cyber criminals and online propagandists through proper investigations and ensure exemplary punishment in accordance with the law,” he said.
The meeting also discussed bilateral cooperation on law and order, security, visa facilitation for Palestinian students and other issues of mutual interest.
Reaffirming Bangladesh’s longstanding support for the Palestinian cause, Salahuddin Ahmed said the country has consistently backed the Palestinian people’s struggle for independence and the establishment of a sovereign state.
He also recalled the role of former President Ziaur Rahman, saying he made a significant contribution to mobilising international opinion in support of Palestine. The minister added that Bangladesh would continue its principled and moral support for Palestine.
During the meeting, Ambassador Ramadan said a large number of Palestinian students are currently pursuing higher education at public and private educational institutions across Bangladesh.
He requested the government to facilitate visa-on-arrival arrangements for Palestinian students to make their travel and academic activities easier.
The Home Minister instructed the relevant authorities to extend full cooperation on the matter and asked the ambassador to submit a formal request to the Home Ministry through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Palestinian envoy also proposed that when Palestinian citizens apply for Bangladeshi visas at Bangladesh missions in Middle Eastern countries, copies of those applications should be shared with the Embassy of Palestine in Dhaka for verification.
Responding to the request, Salahuddin Ahmed said Bangladesh values its close ties with Palestine and remains committed to extending all possible support for the welfare of Palestinian citizens.
The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest, including education, security and people-to-people relations.
