Bangladesh writes to Meta for strict content monitoring until election

A letter accuses Meta of failing to take timely action to curb social media activities of individuals identified by authorities as threats

The National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA) has urged Meta to closely monitor social media content, citing concerns that platforms are being used to incite violence amid Bangladesh’s ongoing political crisis.

The NCSA sent a letter to the American multinational technology company on Friday.

The letter describes statements and calls on social media platforms, including Facebook, aimed at intimidating or inciting violence and mob actions as threats to national security and democracy.

Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, chief advisor's special assistant on ICT, has confirmed sending the letter.

Sent by the NCSA’s Director General Taibur Rahman, the letter was addressed to Meta Vice President Simon Milner, Director Sarim Aziz and Head of Human Rights Policy Frederick Rawski.

Bangladesh’s ongoing political instability has already led to extensive violence, the letter said, noting that in the Uprising in July last year more than 1,400 students were killed and several thousand people were injured.

Describing the situation as “fragile”, it notes that the country is undergoing a political transition under an interim government striving to restore order and conduct credible elections.

Concerns were raised about platforms like Facebook being used to “provoke violence, intimidate citizens, and disrupt the electoral process”.

Recent attacks on the media following the death of Sharif Osman Bin Hadi were cited as examples of social media’s real-world impact.

The NCSA also accused Meta of failing to take timely action to prevent such incidents, even after authorities requested the deactivation of accounts belonging to individuals involved in inciting such acts in the past.

As per the letter, the uncontrolled spread of violent content poses a direct threat to national stability, social harmony, the safety of minority communities, and the independence of the media.

It also notes that Meta’s role is not merely technical but a matter of significant public responsibility.

The letter calls on Meta to take several specific measures. These include enforcing community standards on Bangladesh-related content more strictly and swiftly, strengthening content moderation and sentiment analysis in the Bengali language, and maintaining heightened monitoring of Bangladesh-related content at least until the parliamentary polls scheduled for February 2026.