BBC’s Tune While the Nation Burns: Media Poetry Masking Governance Failures

Opinion

Typically, those making 5-10 year business plans must consider three key factors: First, ensuring revenue growth by controlling operational costs for short-term goals. Second, adjusting pricing strategies appropriately to ensure profitability for medium-term objectives. Third, conducting feasibility analyses for investments to achieve long-term targets.

To analyze these three aspects, we generally follow three indicators and attempt future projections through trend analysis: 1. The country’s overall economic growth, measured by GDP or gross domestic product. 2. The general state of law and order. 3. Citizens’ disposable income and inflation rates.

Just two days ago, the United States imposed a 35% tariff on imports from Bangladesh. Despite this critical issue’s negative economic impact, no export sector representatives except Rubana Huq were seen commenting in media. As public discourse began, BBC Bangla strategically published an investigative report against Sheikh Hasina.

This is textbook ‘momentum marketing’—flashy like Evaly’s fireworks, temporarily effective but unsustainable.

If you survey people around you, you’ll find—among non-political individuals earning six-figure monthly incomes—7 out of 10 became strangely exhilarated by BBC’s report. Others either didn’t care or were too consumed by daily struggles to engage.

Why?

Because those with good incomes have savings, granting them mental and emotional freedom to comment on politics. But among Bangladesh’s 73 million working-age population, how many earn six-figure salaries? At most 2-3%!

If the 35% U.S. tariff takes effect August 1, Bangladesh’s garment sector will face disaster. Should this sector collapse, economic depression will follow, triggering unprecedented organized crime and social instability.

For four months, whenever crises emerged, media reports targeting Sheikh Hasina conveniently surfaced—as if to distract. This was the Awami League government’s old playbook. The difference? Previous governments had substantive arguments, while this interim administration only has “fascist” labels and Hasina-centric smears to recycle.

Notice how every crisis coincides with three viral social media narratives: 1. Sheikh Hasina or fascism, 2. Coordinator Hasnat Abdullah (something always happens with him—he’s clearly kept on high-dose drugs, no doubt), 3. July—July Charter, July Movement or July Spirit.

Analyzing the past six months confirms this pattern.

I personally saw a protest video from Jatrabari last July where demonstrators handcuffed a RAB officer to his vehicle’s stand and set it ablaze. Such violence in protests isn’t new—it’s been happening for ten months.

More horrifying was footage of a mentally unstable woman stripped naked, beaten to death. Or three people lynched the day after a mobile theft arbitration—such brutality was unseen in 15 years.

Suddenly, rapes and murders of girls are surging. Just 15 days of media monitoring reveals: 1. A 7-year-old tortured and hanged from a tree in Kishoreganj. 2. A teen girl gang-raped in Sylhet, thrown in a pond presumed dead. 3. An 8-year-old rape victim’s body found inside a mosque.

70-80% of recent violence targets women and girls. Why so few reports about boys? Because 2.1 million lost jobs recently—1.8 million were women.

Know how many mainstream outlets covered this? How many talk shows? None—or none allowed. Why? Because even Prothom Alo or Daily Star now alter headlines, edit content, or remove stories entirely.

Bangabandhu’s historic March 7 speech had a line: “Bengalis want to live, Bengalis don’t seek power.”

Walk streets for 30-40 minutes with a corporate CEO’s observational eye. Listen to tea stall patrons or mobile banking agents. You’ll notice—except NRBs abroad or occasional travelers—no one cares about democracy or voting rights.

Their concerns? Rice prices per kg, chicken rates, egg costs. By the way, what’s the current rice price per kg?

-Pritilata Waddakar
Media Professional