It was really heartening to see that people had discarded the chemical-induced, mammoth-sized fattened cattle for Eid-ul-Azha. Even people who could have afforded to buy cattle worth Tk400,000/500,000 were seen choosing cows that weren’t grotesquely fat. Rather, they went for the smaller, deshi ones that didn’t look so impressive.
The media had reported that some hugely-fattened cattle were seen dying on the way to the capital since, reportedly, they had been given an overdose of the hazardous fattening substances. Imagine what would happen to humans if they had consumed the meat.
People were seen becoming quite aware about the possible health hazards of such cattle, and the best part was that they refrained from buying them. All of this was possible due to the media’s active coverage on their impending dangers.
Both the print and the electronic media were quite sincere in reporting about how a section of unscrupulous traders started fattening cows immediately after Eid-ul-Fitr. Loads of thanks to the media men who diligently let the people know about the dangers of consuming chemicals.
This was a great example of how the media can be of great service to society. Apart from disseminating news and views, the media has always stood by the people.
Remember when cyclone Mahasen was approaching the Bangladesh coast? The media started an awareness campaign at least a week before it struck our lands. Government officials were also seen acting alongside the media. This was the first time Bangladesh was able to properly manage a time of disaster.
It was the media that first reported on the dangerous proportions of formalin in fishes and fruits. We may not have been able to totally eliminate this substance from our food, but the people are now greatly aware about the illnesses that they can cause.
So, the media has been doing the task that basically the government department concerned should have done.
Recently, Dhaka Tribune and The Daily Star reported that banned pesticides that cause serious health hazards were found in fruits, vegetables, milk and milk-based products, and dry fish. 40% of the 82 samples contained pesticides that had been banned more than one-and-a-half decades ago due to their high toxicity levels. The banned pesticides included DDT, Aldrin, Chlordane, and Heptachlor, which are extremely harmful to humans.
Remember what the daily Prothom Alo did about acid violence in this country on its own volition? Since the newspaper started its anti-acid violence campaign and stood by the acid victims, the incidents of acid violence were reduced to 70%.
The paper had taken a very firm stand against acid violence. I’ve seen many other newspapers taking such stands against many forms of violence in the past. For example, I’d worked in a paper that was quite pro-women and pro-human rights. However, I didn’t notice its willingness to turn its policies into active campaigns.
Many may argue that the responsibility of the media is not to root out societal ills; instead, its responsibility is to provide information to the masses. Well, I’ve seen media across the world taking up many grave social issues and working alongside the government in order to augment various causes. In India, singers, artists, writers, and academics were inspired by a TV talk-show Prasangokrome on DY 365, to make a spontaneous visit to the strife-torn areas in the Bodoland Territorial Area District. Also, the media has been playing an important role for advocacy in building a powerful response to widespread instances of rape in that country.
Imagine what would happen if the media starts becoming more active in correcting traffic problems, the environmental degradation, land-grabbing, etc! We all remember how Mati O Manush on BTV had started as a mere television program and has now become a form of agricultural activism for Channel i.
This has inspired thousands of farmers across the country to strive for a better future for agriculture. Their campaign has also helped government policymakers to understand many aspects of agriculture.
I strongly believe that there are issues in our country that are yet to be addressed. Our government doesn’t have the adequate resources to monitor or tackle these issues even if it wants to. The media can fill in that blank; it can aid the government’s initiatives when it comes to creating social awareness, or preventing the ills which the government has been working against for a long time.
The strength of the media is immense. In our country, I believe, if anyone can remove those ills, it’s the media.
