State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak announced a comprehensive drive to halt online gambling activities in Bangladesh, targeting approximately 5 million people involved in such activities.
Following a meeting with French Ambassador to Bangladesh Marie Masdupuy at the secretariat, Palak briefed reporters about the alarming rise of online gambling and its associated risks, including money laundering.
Palak highlighted the significant risk to children and elderly retired individuals, stating, “Our children of different ages are at serious risk. Even many elderly retired persons are coming in.” He added that data analysis has revealed how millions have become ensnared in these gambling sites.
In efforts to combat this issue, Palak emphasized the ongoing work to block illegal gambling sites and raise public awareness to prevent people from falling victim to such temptations. “We are trying to block illegal gambling sites. I’m also trying to create awareness so that common people are not deceived by any such temptation,” he noted.
To date, 2,600 gambling sites have been blocked, with efforts now extending to mobile apps. “It’s a continuous process, and it will continue,” Palak affirmed.
He also mentioned collaborative discussions with the Department of Telecom, National Telecom Monitoring Centre, Computer Council, BTRC, and the Cyber Security Agency to effectively block these gambling sites and curb their operations.
