Dhaka Calls for Collective Response to Misinformation Challenges at Colombo Security Conclave

Bangladesh Urges Collective Action on Cybersecurity and Disinformation at Regional Security Forum

Bangladesh has called for stronger collective action among Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) member states to address growing challenges related to cybersecurity, misinformation and disinformation during a high-level regional security meeting held in New Delhi.

“We need to articulate and implement our collective actions in facing up to the challenges of cyber security, misinformation and disinformation, and I look forward to CSC’s actions in this regard,” said National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman during the 7th meeting of National Security Advisers of the CSC on Wednesday.

The meeting, hosted by India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, brought together counterparts from member states including Maldives, Mauritius, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Seychelles participated as an observer state, while Malaysia attended as a special guest.

Khalilur, who also serves as Bangladesh’s high representative for the Rohingya issue, emphasized that his country’s engagement with the CSC would continue to be guided by core principles of sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity and non-interference as outlined in the conclave’s charter.

In his address, the Bangladeshi security adviser highlighted the importance of the CSC’s five priority areas of cooperation, describing them as central pillars for enhancing “collective security, regional stability and shared prosperity.” These areas include maritime safety and security, counterterrorism and radicalization, combating transnational organized crime, cybersecurity and protection of critical infrastructure, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

Bangladesh has been “steadfastly playing its dual role” in advancing regional security initiatives, Khalilur noted, pointing to the country’s collaboration with neighboring nations in improving maritime safety, combating piracy and transnational maritime crime. He reaffirmed Bangladesh’s “zero-tolerance policy towards all forms of terrorism, under any circumstance.”

Cybersecurity featured prominently in his remarks, with Khalilur noting that rapid technological expansion and increasing digital vulnerabilities have subjected Bangladesh to “a constant barrage of misinformation and disinformation.” While emphasizing the need to defend the nation’s cyberspace and critical infrastructure, he warned that national efforts alone are insufficient.

“We need to confront our common challenges together,” he urged, calling for unified regional measures to combat cyber threats.

The meeting provided an opportunity for participants to review activities under different pillars of cooperation and discuss the roadmap and action plan for 2026. Bangladesh became the fifth official member of the CSC in 2024, joining India, Sri Lanka, Mauritius and the Maldives.

A day before the CSC meeting, Khalilur met separately with his Indian counterpart Doval in New Delhi, where they discussed bilateral issues and extended an invitation for Doval to visit Bangladesh.

The Bangladeshi security adviser’s participation in the CSC forum aligns with the interim government’s prioritization of regional cooperation. Since taking office, the interim administration led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has actively engaged with regional bodies, with Yunus himself being elected Chair of BIMSTEC in April and working to reactivate the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

Khalilur had previously led a Bangladesh delegation to the China-Indian Ocean Region Forum in Kunming, China, further highlighting Bangladesh’s commitment to regional engagement.

The CSC, which emerged as a significant security forum in the Indian Ocean region, aims to promote regional security by addressing transnational threats and challenges of common concern to member states. The group has been meeting regularly, with the 6th NSA meeting held in Mauritius in December 2023, followed by the signing ceremony for the founding documents in Sri Lanka in August 2024.

As cybersecurity threats and disinformation campaigns become increasingly sophisticated, Bangladesh’s call for collective regional action reflects growing recognition that these challenges transcend national borders and require coordinated responses from like-minded nations in the Indian Ocean region.