Biman Bangladesh Airlines has officially banned WhatsApp for internal communication, citing concerns over cybersecurity and the protection of corporate data.
In a directive issued by the airline’s IT department earlier this week, employees have been instructed to use Microsoft Teams as the new standard for official communication.
According to the notice, the decision was made aiming to strengthen the airline’s cybersecurity framework and ensure safe handling of sensitive information. It points out that Microsoft Teams is recognized globally for secure, professional communication and provides various corporate features, such as text messaging, voice and video calls, and file sharing.
The IT department noted that creating Teams accounts is simple, as employees can use their personal email addresses and phone numbers. This makes the transition easy for staff.
Many global corporations and government agencies have already adopted the platform, moving away from WhatsApp because it is a third-party app and has potential security issues.
ABM Raushan Kabir, General Manager of Biman’s Public Relations Department, said that the airline has signed a formal agreement with Microsoft to use its platform for corporate communication and virtual meetings.
WhatsApp had already been disabled on official desktop computers a few months ago as part of a gradual rollout.
