We are deeply concerned by the growing instances of online harassment targeting women across the country. The cyberbullying of Sylhet primary school headteacher Beauty Rani Pal is the latest example of how women who express themselves on social media are subjected to trolling, character assassination, and abuse. Named the district’s best teacher this year, she did nothing more than post a short video of herself walking around her school premises after work, accompanied by a popular Bangla song. However, her video was taken out of context, shared with misleading captions, and used to launch a wave of online attacks. Some even demanded disciplinary action against her, despite there being no evidence that she had violated any government rules or professional ethics.
Such cyberbullying against women has risen at an alarming rate since the political changeover of August 5, 2024. Lack of meaningful action has only emboldened perpetrators. A 2024 national survey on violence against women found that 8.3 percent of women in Bangladesh experience Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV). Many choose to withdraw from online platforms altogether rather than endure such hostility. Targeted by online trolls, Beauty also removed her video.
However, the spontaneous solidarity shown by teachers and citizens across the country in support of her sends an encouraging message that many still reject such misogyny and online abuse. But public solidarity, important as it is, cannot substitute for institutional action. While the education authorities initially considered forming an inquiry committee, they later abandoned the idea after finding no wrongdoing in her conduct. We welcome the decision. Experts have also pointed out that neither the government service rules nor the official social media guidelines prohibit teachers from sharing personal cultural content, provided it does not interfere with their professional responsibilities. The question, however, remains: why did the authorities initially focus on investigating the victim instead of identifying and taking action against those responsible for orchestrating the online abuse? Thankfully, the police have initiated an investigation following Beauty’s complaint.
The government must ensure that those responsible for targeting Beauty Rani Pal are identified and held accountable through a fair and timely investigation. This case should not become another example of perpetrators escaping justice while the victim bears the consequences. The same commitment must extend to all cases of technology-facilitated gender-based violence. Law enforcement agencies must investigate these crimes effectively, while social media platforms must cooperate in identifying offenders and removing abusive content. Holding perpetrators accountable is the only way to deter future abuse and send an unequivocal message that gender-based online harassment will not be tolerated.
