Govt moves to strengthen cybersecurity

The government on Tuesday launched two new digital platforms�"the Cyber Incident Reporting System (CIRS) and the National ICT and Cyber Security Rating System (NRS)�"to strengthen Bangladesh's cybersecurity framework and improve responses to cyberattacks and online fraud. 
It also unveiled the preliminary draft of the National Cyber Security Strategy 2026�"2030.

The platforms were inaugurated by Minister for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology and Science and Technology Fakir Mahbub Anam at a ceremony held at the Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) auditorium in ICT Tower, Agargaon.

Speaking at the event, the minister said the launch of CIRS and NRS marks a new chapter in the country's cybersecurity efforts.

He said that with the rapid expansion of digital technologies, the risks of cyberattacks, data theft, online fraud and the spread of misinformation have also increased. Through CIRS, citizens and organisations will be able to report cyber incidents easily and receive prompt support, while the NRS will help assess and improve the cybersecurity capacity of both public and private institutions.

The minister also stressed the need for responsible use of social media to prevent misuse, disinformation and online harassment, saying that building a secure, stable and trusted digital Bangladesh requires joint efforts from the government, institutions and citizens.

Adviser to the Prime Minister's of the ministry Rehan Asif Asad said Bangladesh has entered a new phase following the implementation of the Cyber Security Act, but warned there is no room for complacency. He emphasised that cybersecurity must remain a top priority as the country moves towards a digital economy and a cashless society.

He added that cybersecurity is a shared responsibility of the government, private sector and citizens, and called for developing skilled human resources in Artificial Intelligence (AI), cybersecurity and data technologies to address future cyber threats.

Officials said CIRS will allow citizens, organisations and authorised users to submit cyber incident reports through a structured process. Each report will undergo verification, analysis, escalation, response, monitoring and resolution through an integrated system.

The NRS will serve as a national rating mechanism for evaluating ICT, information security and cybersecurity capabilities of public and private organisations. Under the National ICT and Cyber Security Maturity Rating Framework, institutions will be graded from A to E based on four key pillars and 131 performance indicators.

Speakers expressed hope that the implementation of CIRS and NRS would strengthen the country's cyber resilience, improve inter-agency coordination and support evidence-based policymaking, paving the way for a safer, more resilient and trustworthy digital environment.

The programme, chaired by ICT Division Secretary Md Mamunur Rashid Bhuiyan, was attended by Bangladesh Bank Governor Md Mostakur Rahman, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) Chairman Major General (Retd.) Md Emdad Ul Bari, representatives of various government agencies and senior ICT Division officials.