Protesters point finger at ‘go viral culture’

Almost anything and everything can go viral on the social media now-a-days. As everyone has smartphone – it is ever easier to grab video footage and release online. 

Many of the videos with massive reactions later shepherd the mainstream media to cover and investigate – paving the way for justice. 

Demonstrators, however, have raised concern over the ‘going viral trend’ in such recent incidents saying: “This could be dangerous for commoners.”

What it could be if the broad daylight Barguna murder or the rape and killing of a nursery student in Dhaka’s Wari did not appear in the social media – they raised their point at a demonstration in the capital on Monday. 

Garment Sramik Sanghati and left leaning student organization Bangladesh Students Federation arranged the human chain at Shahbagh demanding justice for the rape and murder of seven-year-old Samia Afrin Sayma.    

Citing several incidents of violence against women and children, Sramik Sanghati President Taslima Akhter held the government responsible for its “failure”.

“As rapists hardly get any punishment, the society indirectly encourages molestations,” she said lambasting the ‘culture of impunity’.  

“Moreover, the political affiliation of the culprits is another barrier to justice,” she asserted.      

“If rape cases don’t get viral and media coverage -- the victims hardly get any legal remedy,” Taslima Akhter concluded.   

Extrajudicial killing 

Meantime, President of Bangladesh Students Federation Golam Mostafa criticised the rise of ‘crossfire culture’.   

Referring to the Barguna murder and the death of the main accused in a reported shootout, he said: “Police killed Nayan Bond instead of bringing him to book – saving the political mafias who create and pamper such characters for their businesses.”

“Petty drug peddlers are being killed in gunfights while big fishes are being rewarded. This culture is fueling numerous crimes – including gender based violence.”