Dhaka, Sept 23 (V7N) – State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam has invited Meta to open an office in Bangladesh, citing the country's large user base and growing digital economy, according to a foreign ministry statement issued here today.
The state minister held talks with Meta's Chief Global Affairs Officer Joel Kaplan on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly in New York, where she made the proposal.
During the meeting, Shama discussed how Meta's platforms and technologies could support Bangladeshi businesses, entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as the country's e-commerce sector. She also urged Meta to take further steps to prevent online abuse and digital harassment, and discussed Bangladesh's proposed Cyber Security Act with Kaplan.
Adviser to the Prime Minister Rehan Asif Asad, Bangladesh's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Irene Khan and Deputy Permanent Representative A.K.M. Waheeduzzaman were also present during the meeting.
The meeting is part of Bangladesh's broader economic diplomacy efforts at the UNGA, where Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is also scheduled to hold meetings with senior representatives of Meta, Wall Street and other business organisations. Bangladesh has a large and growing base of social media users, with Meta's platforms—including Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram—being among the most widely used in the country. The government has been working to strengthen the digital economy, promote e-commerce, and address challenges related to online abuse, misinformation, and cyber security.
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