Bangladesh is undergoing a great deal of political turmoil after more than 450 people died, thousands were injured, and the former Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, fled the country to neighbouring India, along with thousands of others. It all started, four weeks ago, when the Government chose to reinstate a job quota favouring relatives of Independence War Veterans from a war in the early 1970’s. Students protested, and deadly violence followed.

Yet reporting of this tragedy has been limited here in Australia and one University of Melbourne Professor of media and former international journalist, Liam Cochrane, says it’s part of a wider bias. Alipriya Biswas spoke anonymously to a citizen of Bangladesh who visited the country before the massacre broke out about his experience.

Image: Photo: Mamunur Rashid

Produced By: Alipriya Biswas

Featured In Story: Liam Cochrane – University of Melbourne Professor of media and former international journalist

First aired on The Wire, Tuesday 13 August 2024