Written by Tanveer Anoy
Once again, Bangladeshi media has chosen to mislead the public, distort reality, and perpetuate misogyny instead of reporting the truth. The recent protests following the assault of two young women in Lalmatia have been twisted into a ridiculous narrative, with headlines suggesting that people are protesting because the women were smoking. This blatant misrepresentation serves only to deflect from the actual issue: the ongoing epidemic of gender-based violence and the state’s failure to address it.
The real reason behind the protests is not a debate over smoking. It is about the alarming rise in rape cases, the impunity enjoyed by perpetrators, and the deep-seated misogyny embedded in both society and state institutions. When two women were physically harassed for simply smoking in public, the response from a high-ranking government official—the Home Affairs Adviser—was nothing short of victim-blaming. Instead of condemning the assault, he focused on the fact that the women were smoking, as if that justified the violence against them. This kind of rhetoric is not just irresponsible; it is dangerous. It emboldens perpetrators and reinforces the idea that women’s bodies and actions are subject to societal control.
The media’s role in this has been disgraceful. Instead of holding power accountable, it has chosen to twist the narrative, making it seem as if the protests are about a trivial issue rather than a response to state-sanctioned violence against women. This pattern is not new—time and again, mainstream media in Bangladesh has shown an utter lack of journalistic integrity when reporting on gender-based violence, choosing sensationalism over truth, and reinforcing misogynistic narratives that place the blame on victims rather than perpetrators.
People are protesting because women are being beaten, harassed, and raped with little to no justice. They are protesting because high-ranking officials normalize oppression through their words and actions. They are protesting because, in a country where sexual violence is rampant, the government’s response is to shift the blame rather than take meaningful action. The media, instead of amplifying these critical issues, has decided to gaslight the public into thinking that this is about smoking. It is a deliberate tactic to distract, minimize, and silence voices demanding justice.
If Bangladeshi media had any shred of integrity left, it would report the truth: that this is about violence, impunity, and state-backed misogyny. But until that happens, the people will continue to resist, call out their lies, and demand justice. Because this fight is far bigger than misleading headlines—it is about the fundamental right to exist without fear.
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