New Era | A seminar on cybersecurity in the banking sector was held in Dhaka

In response to the growing threat of cyberattacks on the banking sector, Cosmos Group, in collaboration with global technology leader Thales, organized a cybersecurity seminar at The Westin Dhaka on Monday.

The aim of the event was to present comprehensive guidelines and effective solutions to address these challenges.

The seminar gathered several outstanding specialists from the banking industry, advisory teams and distinguished guests, emphasizing the key importance of cybersecurity in the financial sector.

French Ambassador to Bangladesh Marie Masdupuy attended the seminar as guest of honor, along with Cosmos Foundation President Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, Cosmos Group Founder and Managing Director Enayetullah Khan, Cosmos Group Vice President Nahar Khan, Cosmos Group Deputy Managing Director Masud Jamil Khan and Director (Deputy secretary) in the Prime Minister’s Office AKM Fazlur Rahman.

James McLeary, Head of Thales’ Cybersecurity Practice for Asia, delivered a presentation entitled The Cyber ​​Threat Landscape and Considerations for the Banking Sector. Prasun Srivastava, Principal Solutions Architect, APAC Channels, Thales, virtually presented Solving Compliance – a unified platform approach.

Nahar Khan highlighted the importance of the seminar, saying, “As we gather here today, we all recognize the critical importance of prioritizing the security of our digital infrastructure and cybersecurity as a core element of our banking operations. Bangladesh’s banking and finance sectors play a key role in driving economic growth and empowering individuals and businesses. However, with the rapid digitization of financial services, the sector is increasingly exposed to cyber threats. From sophisticated intrusion attempts to insider fraud, the threats facing our financial institutions are multifaceted and constantly evolving, and today’s seminar aims to not only acknowledge these challenges, but also chart a path forward.”

“Today I am delighted to speak on behalf of Cosmos Group, which began its journey in the early 1970s and has since played a key role in shaping Bangladesh’s development and landscape, engaging in a spectrum of industries including energy, media, mining, telecommunications, forwarding and logistics, and infrastructure. Space has been consistently contributing to various phases of progress and development in Bangladesh. Cosmos Group and Thales have collaborated on several projects in the past and I am pleased to share our ongoing cybersecurity partnership. Thales is a world leader in advanced technology systems and is involved in 80 percent of the world’s online transactions and secures the information systems of the world’s leading banks and internet giants. I am very proud of our partnership,” she added.

French Ambassador Marie Masdupuy noted the joint efforts of France and Bangladesh, stating: “During French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Bangladesh in September 2023, both countries agreed to cooperate on cybersecurity capabilities. This aspect was also discussed extensively during Bangladesh Minister of State for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak’s recent visit to France last week, as he was able to interact with the French cybersecurity agency and familiarize himself with the cyber campus and other factors.

Praising Thales’ expertise, she added: “France stands ready to support Bangladesh with technical assistance, knowledge sharing, public awareness and skills development to protect financial systems. Without solid cybersecurity, any progress can quickly be undone. Cooperation in this field is essential.