Former religious affairs adviser to Bangladesh’s interim government, Professor Dr AFM Khalid Hossain, has urged students to avoid discussing confidential matters over WhatsApp or mobile phones.
He made the remarks on Friday (11 September) at a reception for students who achieved A+ results, organised by the Jonar Keochia Islami Samaj Kalyan Parishad in Satkania, Chattogram.
Addressing the students, Khalid Hossain cautioned them against sharing sensitive information through mobile communication. “Do not share any secret matter on WhatsApp or mobile phones,” he said.
The former adviser referred to information from a report by a news outlet while explaining the reason for his warning. He claimed that the report had stated that WhatsApp conversations could be obtained in written form in exchange for money.
“If you pay Tk 1,100, conversations from three months on WhatsApp will come in written form. And for Tk 1,500, it will be six months,” Khalid Hossain said.
He did not provide further details about the report he cited, including how such conversations could allegedly be obtained or the technical process involved. His comments were made primarily as a warning to students about exercising caution when discussing highly confidential matters over mobile devices.
Khalid Hossain then gave a stronger warning about revealing serious secrets through mobile phones. “If you reveal something seriously secret on your mobile phone, be careful. It is being recorded before Allah, and it is also being recorded by people,” he said.
His remarks came at an event centred on recognising students for their academic performance. The reception was organised to honour students who had secured A+ results, while the former adviser used part of his address to speak about responsible and cautious use of mobile communication.
Mobile phones and messaging applications have become an integral part of everyday communication. People use them not only for personal conversations but also to exchange photographs, documents and other information. As a result, maintaining control over sensitive information has become an increasingly relevant concern for users.
Digital privacy can be affected by a range of factors, including the security of an individual’s device and account, access to the device, and whether sensitive information is shared with others. Users are generally advised to think carefully before sending confidential information through any communication platform and to maintain appropriate security measures on their devices.
Khalid Hossain, however, did not go into technical details about digital security or explain the specific claims contained in the report he mentioned. Instead, his central message to the students was straightforward: sensitive or highly confidential matters should not be discussed casually over mobile phones or messaging services.
The warning was delivered in the context of an educational gathering in Satkania, where students were being recognised for their results. By raising the issue of mobile-phone conversations, the former religious affairs adviser sought to draw the young audience’s attention to the need for discretion when communicating information they consider private.
His comments have therefore brought together two themes at the event: recognition of students’ academic achievements and a broader caution about the way young people communicate in an increasingly digital environment.
