Media+Contribution

Much has been written about the mainstream media's role in dehumanising groups and manufacturing consent for government brutality. Here we examine the role of the press during the build up and aftermath of the events on 5th and 6th May.

Electronic and print media in Bangladesh are very much controlled by the government, with opposition quickly shutdown, especially over governing taboos like the Massacre. Previously, on 11th April, the //Amar Desh// newspaper was shut down by the government, and its owner-editor Mahmudur Rahman detained on the grounds of sedition. Mahmudur Rahman had been critical of the government's manipulation of extreme nationalistic sentiments and defamation of religious communities and remains in conditions of indefinite detention.

Farhad Mazhar, a friend and activist reported seeing signs of torture on Rahman's body. More recently Mazhar was vilified in the media for remarks suggesting that the public were justified in

During the early hours of 6th May in Dhaka, Diganta TV and Islamic TV stations were shut down by the government. The stations are still closed to this date, disrupting the livelihoods of employees, but more crucially preventing scrutiny and voicing of legitimate concerns over the conduct of the government, its security forces and cadres.

The English print media in Bangladesh, dominated by Transcom's //The Daily Star// and the Gencom-Kazi Farms //Dhaka Tribune// joint venture struggled to argue the government's case, accusing conservative religious scholars of burning Qur'ans, using children as human shields, looting and attacking property. Their role in undermining a report on the incident by the Odhikar human rights group later that summer when Adilur Rahman was arrested is worth noting as is their involvement in the character assassination campaign waged against Allama Shafi.

The lower circulation //New Age//, //Dhaka Courier// and //Weekly Holiday// initially ran stories critical of government, opposition and media handling of the events, but were unable to sustain interest in the face of relentless government pressure on the victimised, a beleaguered opposition prone to wild exaggeration and international backing for the government.

As an excolonial country, the BBC's coverage of world and local events is held with unusual esteem in Bangladesh. The Bangladesh coverage at the BBC World Service is edited by Sabir Mustafa, whose role in framing the protesters, and covering up the state crime invites scrutiny and accountability, in the interests of both Bangladeshi and British publics.

The press failure around this event is an issue worthy of thorough investigation.