Coverage of Minority Issues in the Selected National Dailies During the 10th Parliamentary Elections in Bangladesh

Abstract

Attack, intimidation and oppression on the minority communities are significant socio-political phenomenon in Bangladesh. Media reports and experience show that the minority communities face harassment and oppressions by the religious fundamentalists, terrorists and the vested interest groups around different national parliamentary elections. Due to perceived disobedience of the religious minorities to particular political parties, they reportedly come under attack in different political and communal violence. Since the minority issue is a socio-political matter, the role of media in portraying the issue is also diversified and agenda-based. It is expected that being a social organization media should play its role responsibly in regard to the social issues and the functions of the media can be evaluated by determining its political economy. The study depicts how the leading national dailies of the country looked into the minority issues and presented their content during the 10thparliamentary elections in Bangladesh.