Opinion
From the Editor-in-Chief: Despite naysayers, good journalism remains essential
According to the American Press Institute, asking who is a journalist is the wrong question, because journalism can be produced by anyone. At the same time, it makes the distinction that merely engaging in journalistic-like activity – snapping a cell-phone picture at the scene of a fire or creating a blog site for news and comment – does not by itself produce a journalistic product.
The journalist, it goes on to say, places the public good above all else and uses certain methods – the foundation of which is a discipline of verification – to gather and assess what he or she finds.
It is this commitment to the public good that truly distinguishes journalists, and makes them essential agents of social progress. As such, the discouraging conclusion of Oxford University’s Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, that the public’s trust and interest in news is falling, with an alarming number of people deciding to avoid news altogether, must alarm us.
Read: What PM said on Russia-Ukraine war, Rohingya issue, climate action, terrorism at 77th UNGA
That is why we must embrace World News Day, which fell on September 28, a global campaign to highlight the value of fact-based journalism and its power to change lives and support freedom and democracy. It is organised by The Canadian Journalism Foundation (CJF) and WAN-IFRA's World Editors Forum, and sponsored by the Google News Initiative. It is above all an opportunity to remind ourselves, as well as society at large, of the important role that journalism plays in preserving those important ideals. Of why journalism matters.
We have just been through a highly disruptive global event in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. Right from the beginning, journalists recognised the sheer unprecedented nature of the event, at least in their own lifetimes, in terms of its sheer impact and reach. The relentless news cycle, an ‘infodemic’ of misinformation, and its effects on the personal lives of each and every one of us, made it one of the most unique stories, at the same time one of the biggest challenges, we are ever likely to face.
The pandemic was characterised as a potential "extinction event" for journalism as hundreds of news outlets closed and journalists were laid off around the world, advertising budgets were slashed, and many were forced to rethink how to do their jobs amid restrictions on movement and limited access to information or public officials. Yet the same event is adequate to show that journalism, “at its best” - as Kathy English, chair of The Canadian Journalism Foundation is keen to add - matters more than ever before.
Read: UNGA lauds Bangladesh’s leadership in promoting culture of peace
Good journalists have shown that by doing stories that provide reliable information, alongside relevant context, perspectives, and potential solutions, they are also the best antidote for the said infodemic. Access to information is a human right - it is also the best cure for disinformation, or even misinformation.
To that end, World News Day is an initiative to uphold how lives are improved when journalists, at their best, and mindful of their responsibility, tell a story. To showcase the importance of even small newsrooms in fostering a sense of community. And to renew our commitment to work with the belief that we have a special duty towards society, and it must be fulfilled each and every day.
Overconfident Bangladesh Women “crushed” by a very competent Pakistan
The kind of hype which surrounded the Bangladesh Women cricket was very much deflated when they lost to Pakistan by 9 wickets in the Women Asia Cup. Pakistan was very spot on while Bangladesh looked very out of place.
Bangladesh had beaten Thailand and expected to win against Pakistan after their World cup Qualifiers cup victory but basically flopped. Its true Pakistan is a strong team but as defenders of the Cup , they were expected to do much better. As cricket site Cricbuzz said in their live commentary rather frankly, “Bangladesh have been awful with the bat and then with the ball as well” It’s obviously a malady we only know oh-so –well when it comes to cricket in Bangladesh.
Woeful batting
Bangladesh lost the toss and were put to bat and scored 70 for the loss of 8 wickets. Salma Khatun top scored with 24 and only two other players reached double digits. It speaks volumes about the “awful” batting. Almost everyone who saw the match has said the team lacked intent and purpose. Either they took the match lightly or don’t know how to take it seriously.
Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana provided the usual excuses but they sounded hollow. “ The top-order collapsed and the wicket being slow, we couldn't execute our plans. We thought it was a good pitch to bat on. But the wicket was damp. The bowlers were not able to bowl in the right areas. I think we need to work on some issues and come back stronger.”
Of course the wicket was damp, that’s part of cricket life but how one bats on a sticky wicket is part of the growing up process. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem that Bangladesh has shown that trend or intent in this match.
Pakistan was brutal
Pakistan played on the same wicket and their spinners bowed very smartly and tamed Bangladesh batters in a way that made the girls look rather inept. The wicket improved a bit when Pakistan began to bat but the team was clearly more confident and intent on winning and did so in only 12 overs. Bangladesh never managed to look like the champions they still are in the entire match.
Pakistan captain Bismah Maroof had this to say about the Pakistan team performance. “Very clinical from the bowlers. The early wickets put them under pressure. We are working on our spin. We executed our plans well. They are a good side. We need to give the opposition respect. Today's performance was good.” It was a very polite response from a team which had basically “crushed” – BD media’s favourite term to describe defeat- the defending champions rather resoundingly and moved to the top of the table.
The rumour that is going around that the team was jinxed after BCB chief Papon watched them win and praised their performance has no basis, we can confirm.
Seen
Toab Khan: As the doyen moves on, long live journalism
Journalist Toab Khan - Toab bhai to almost all who knew him - passed away at the age of 87. It’s fitting that he did when he had just stepped into the Editor’s shoes of the once defunct now revived Dainik Bangla. His heart lay there as did of many others who worked for that outfit. One doesn’t know how the reincarnated version will look like but there is no doubt that Toab bhai will always stand tall as a journalist forever.
His roots
Toab bhai was a gentle and quiet activist who never made noise to get attention. His role in 1971 has been mentioned by most media releases in a single line but he was much more. A sterling member of the Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra whose programme “Pindir Prolap” –(Ravings of Pindi) which he did was a very respected radio feature winning many minds. It also showed the way Toab bhai thought- just logical arguments and facts- and no frills. He countered Pakistani propaganda very astutely.
When he returned to Bangladesh in 1972 , he joined Dainik Bangla as the Editor. He and his colleagues and team members turned Dainik Bangla into the best paper in town. He also helped launch the weekly “Bichitra” , the most admired magazine in Bangladesh media history.
Read:Veteran journalist Toab Khan dies at 87
Toab bhai began journalism at a weekly, “Saptahik Janata” in 1953. In 1955 he joined Dainik Sangbad where he became the News Editor in 1955. He joined Dainik Pakistan which became Dainik Bangla in 1964 and became the Editor in January 1972.
We had met once in 1976 when he came down to see Hasan Hafizur Rahman-both Dainik Bangla colleagues once- at the 1971 History writing project. We had chatted about the media and he said, “At one point of time journalism becomes part of you and you can’t do anything else. I am not an active journalist anymore and that’s what I miss-the sound and smell of a newspaper office. “He was more than wistful. Both Hasan bhai and Toab bhai had to leave after the 1973 incident.
Read: PM shocked at death of journalist Toab Khan
1973 and after
His hiatus from media began in 1973 when Dainik Bangla published a “telegram” edition condemning police firing on students who were protesting in front of the United States Information service. Two students died. But he was not punished but absorbed as the press secretary to the PM, Sk. Mujibur Rahman . It showed the level of esteem he was held in, in all circles. Hasan bhai went to Moscow as the press councilor. But neither were full time journalists anymore.
Toab bhai also served later PMs and Presidents but was never really happy. He got his break in 1993 when he became attached to “Dainik Janakantha “ in 1993 as an advisory Editor. It was a period of exile from journalism for him and he greedily jumped into media work. His second innings was full of energy and verve and he became a legend of sorts for his dedication and long hours even as his age kissed the 70s.
Yet he knew that journalism and media had both changed. Once on a TV talk show together, I had asked him if he faced competition from social media. He said, “I have been beaten by social media in every race to be the first with the news. One can’t compete with its speed and reach. We have to learn to live with it and not ignore let alone fight it. “ It’s this honesty and integrity that made him so special.
Read:Toab Khan joins as Editor of new ‘Dainik Bangla’
His final innings was as the Editor of new Dainik Bangla but no one knows how it will turn out to be. What we know for sure is what he told me at the TV station. “No matter what, we shall always remain journalists”.
Au revoir Toab Bhai.
Goodbye BBC Bangla, old friend
Plans to shut down the BBC World Service's Bangla division, FM100 on the radio, were on for a while but finally has become a reality. It will not continue beyond Feb-March next year.
What became the “Voice” of the media in many Bangladesh minds will shut down. All media forms and content will be amalgamated and BBC online will be the new heir of the legacy and task.
BBC was always the most important radio service to Bangladeshis even before 1971 but during the war of liberation it became the Voice which everyone listened to wherever radio was. While Shadhin Bangla Betar Kendro was representative of the Bangladesh movement, BBC provided accurate news and international support. It signified the global nature and support of the Bangladesh war. And it found a place in the heart that remains.
Its Dhaka correspondent Nizamuddin Ahmed was picked up on December 12 by the Al-Badr and never heard from again. He remains one of the great symbols of courage and dedication even in times of war.
BBC after 1971
It was after 1971 under an independent flag that saw the reputation of the BBC grow. Its great advantage was the problematic relationship the Bangladesh state has had with the media. More the media felt under pressure, the more the BBC's freedom to report grew. And the hunger for information was satisfied by the BBC broadcast mostly and other foreign outlets.
There were certain circumstances which made this possible. It was an external outlet located in London. The state/government had no control over what was broadcast. And even in the UK, the Government had no official control either. BBC was funded by license fees making it independent of funding. The funding situation has changed now and it’s this lack of resources along with the decline of radio as a medium for content providing that has pushed BBC to make such a tough decision to shut down several language services.
BBC has had some sterling members who are fondly remembered. Among them two stand out, one is Mark Tully and the other is Ataus Samad. Both became symbols of the BBC and Mark Tully who also covered the 1971 from Kolkata is remembered with respect and affection.
Ataus Samad was the Bangladesh correspondent of the BBC from the 80s onwards and became one of the most authentic pilgrims of the profession. He was so meticulous about his accuracy that he would almost be late sometimes because he would not send his report unless he was absolutely sure. Its stars like him who contributed so much to make BBC what it became.
In-depth content
What also signified BBC radio in Bangladesh were its regular series produced on various topics including 1971 history. I produced 3 series on 1971 history– women in 1971, children in 1971, and a mega series on 1971history - apart from many short series , reports and discussions. The information collected to do this work is of great assistance to general research on the topic. But other series reports on sexuality, elderly, child labour, etc were path breaking products in Bangladesh media. BBC did lead in this sector too.
All good things do come to an end when the time comes and the wheels of change will bring forth new media forms and content and are welcomed. But the memory of BBC Bangla radio will live on. Good-bye.
From the Editor-in-Chief: In the pantheon of leaders, Sheikh Hasina stands taller each year
There is something almost cosmic to the coincidence that Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s birthday each year falls right towards the back end of the annual get together of world leaders under the banner of the United Nations, as the colours of fall (or autumn) set in and the trees shed their leaves in America. This annual shindig of the international family of nations, each represented by their leader, happens to be - first and foremost - a global talkathon. Here, no nation is denied the opportunity to have its say. Well, almost no nation.
At the just-concluded 77th session, for the second straight year, Afghanistan and Myanmar weren’t heard at UN General Assembly’s leaders’ meeting, with no representative of either government stepping forward to take the lectern as the UN tries to resolve who should represent them. Joining them this year was the small African island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe - although their no-show happened to be more of a mystery, with no real explanations on offer or sought, it would seem. It goes without saying of course, that every year, a number of leaders’ participation just goes under the radar at the UNGA, that takes over the Turtle Bay area of New York City for almost a fortnight with all its side events, press conferences and external partnerships. Who flew in or who left when, is difficult to keep up with at the best of times.
Also read: From the Editor-in-Chief: UNGA – Dysfunctional, impotent, out-of-touch and yet essential
This year, with the in-person events resuming at full throttle for the first time in three years following the pandemic, there was an even greater rush and urgency to the proceedings. Time was when the Bangladeshi delegation would quietly register its presence on the designated date for its leader’s address, before withdrawing into some sideline events arranged by the expatriate community, somewhere far away in Brooklyn.
Over the course of the last ten years though, that has visibly changed. As Sheikh Hasina’s stature has grown among world leaders, with each passing year she seems to pack a busier and busier schedule during her stay in New York. The expatriate community, that includes a very energetic overseas wing of her own party, the U.S. Awami League, increasingly must satisfy itself with one or two sightings of the prime minister at best in their midst. Under Hasina’s leadership, Bangladesh today is an acknowledged partner in a number of bilateral and multilateral partnerships with the nations of the world, in a variety of fields ranging from security to the economy to conservation efforts. Its voice is increasingly heard, even sought.
Earlier this year, the UN secretary general Antonio Guterres invited our PM on board a very select group of just six leaders (the others being the highly respected heads of government of Barbados, Denmark, Germany, Indonesia and Senegal) to form a Global Crisis Response Group, to steer any global response, should the need arise, to any energy or food crisis that may suddenly occur, given the present vulnerabilities in which the world economy finds itself.
Also read: Shaping a "Bangladesh model" for development.
At the same time, Sheikh Hasina acts as co-chair of the Global Leaders Group on Antimicrobial Resistance, with Mia Amor Mottley, the prime minister of Barbados, who is also held in very high regard at the world leaders’ table. Their first event to raise awareness on this potentially vile problem was held on the sidelines of this year’s UNGA.
Meanwhile, a newly established Platform of Women Leaders, an initiative of UN Women, could hardly have been complete without the participation of one who is now the longest serving active head of state or government among women in the world. With the departure of Angela Merkel from Germany’s political arena, and the recent demise of Queen Elizabeth, perhaps no other woman commands the respect and admiration of her fellows at the world’s highest forum for deciding humanity’s course forward.
If birthdays are a time to reflect on life’s achievements, not just for oneself but for others, Sheikh Hasina’s is timed perfectly to demonstrate her worth to her people. Confidently strutting across the world stage, she is a beacon for her country’ aspirations. And we wish her many more still to come, as the very best ambassador for our nation.
Read Sheikh Hasina: A legend in her own lifetime
World News Day: Editors and reporters need to push back against disinformers
The digital age has ushered in an era of unprecedented connectivity, allowing people across the world to share ideas and opinions in almost real time. It has also been characterised by the spread of disinformation.
This is clear when examining nearly all the major issues facing the world today.
For instance, the rise of the Internet and digital technologies brought the promise of greater democratization by providing an unprecedented ability to share information. Today’s reality, however, more resembles the digital dystopia that the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report warned of nearly a decade ago. In many countries, online disinformation purposefully created and curated abroad is circulating freely, undermining those countries’ political stability.
Read:World News Day: We’re all entitled to our opinions but not our own facts
Democratic institutions are also coming under pressure as disinformation increasingly fuels polarization and political violence. Today, several countries—including Brazil, Italy, Nigeria and the United States, among others—are warning that disinformation is spreading ahead of important elections.
Meanwhile, digital platforms have enabled us to share expertise and scale solutions to tackle climate change. But too often disinformation derails the discussion. In fact, in the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report, the United Nations warned that efforts to curb climate change were being “undermined significantly” by misinformation.
Digital technologies have also supported efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic response. This includes the development of infection tracking systems and vaccination delivery. Yet disinformation has come to define the pandemic, too—so much so that the issue was dubbed a so-called infodemic.
The disinformation surrounding these issues and others has soured public discourse and stifled productive dialogues and action. It has also fuelled conspiracy theories.
Take, for example, the conspiracy theory surrounding The Great Reset, a World Economic Forum initiative that promoted the idea of rebuilding economies to be greener and fairer post-COVID-19. Since 2020, state-backed purveyors of disinformation have created and spread deliberate falsehoods about the initiative, often tying it to anti-semitic conspiracy theories about “control” over the global economy.
Read: Survey finds young people follow news, but without much joy
Claims like these are unfounded and are shared without evidence. Nonetheless, they have spread from extremist corners of the internet to the mainstream. The recent account of Russia's disinformation campaign against a US women’s march in 2017 also shows how almost any topic can be targeted. In this case, disinformation was used to inflame divisive culture wars and shift public discourse away from policy-based discussions.
A resurgence of fact-based journalism can help stem disinformation.
Editors and reporters need to push back against politicians and political commentators who bring fringe falsehoods into the mainstream public discourse. Newsrooms should also take care to avoid misleading both-sides-ism. After all, neutrality does not mean abandoning fact-based journalism.
Moreover, fact-based journalism is vital to protecting free speech as disinformation often tarnishes forward-thinking debate. This only serves to slow down progress and undermine efforts to address urgent issues like public health and the climate crisis.
On World News Day, it is important to remember that the disinformers must not be allowed to win.
It is imperative that the free exchange of ideas and opinions proceeds unpoisoned, and that public discourse remains focused on the critical issues facing people all over the world.
Sheikh Hasina: A legend in her own lifetime
We may not have a Joe Biden to add a new chapter to American history or a Vladimir Putin to push back the boundaries of Russian territory by military might; we may not have a Xi Jinping to invite the world to his 'Belt and Road Initiative' or a Narendra Modi to shepherd Indians towards a one-family world (Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam); we may not have an Angela Merkel to try hard to make good the war damage and reshape a new Germany or a Justin Trudeau to dream of a just society in an unjust world – but we have a Sheikh Hasina, our dearly beloved Prime Minister, whose dearest wish is simply to bring smiles to millions of faces.
Her worthy father, the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman too longed for this. It's no small thing to bring smiles to people's faces. People meant the world to Bangabandhu and it is all the same to Hasina too. Putting smiles on faces of the have-nots embodies the very essence of her political philosophy.
Read: PM Hasina’s 76th birthday Wednesday
Sheikh Hasina is a legend in her own lifetime. Love of people is her life force. She is our Paramount Leader. We don't need anybody else at this moment in time to promise us the moon or the land of milk and honey. We are quite content with a Bangladesh which has survived the onslaught of the coronavirus pandemic and whose people are still having a square meal and sheltered accommodation while countries like Sri Lanka have gone bankrupt. Against all the odds at home and abroad, Bangladesh is rising through the ranks from 'the Basket Case' to 'the Emerging Tiger' under the visionary leadership of Sheikh Hasina – our longest serving and larger than life premier.
We are a peaceable nation. But we understand war. We have bought our independence at the cost of blood, sweat and tears and we will sustain it at all costs. But we don't want to assert dominance over others, we only want to assert our rights. We want our fair share of the cake – in our lands, waters and the skies. We don't poke our nose into others' affairs, nor do we want others to stick theirs into ours. We foster friendship with all and bear grudges against none. This is what the Father of the Nation taught us and we abide by. Our visions, missions and core values as an independent nation are shaping up nicely in the hands of our dynamic and forward-looking premier, Sheikh Hasina.
Read: Special publication launched lauding PM Hasina's extraordinary leadership
This is the fourth time Sheikh Hasina is serving the country as Prime Minister. But it was never plane sailing. She has survived as many as twenty attempts on her life after the assassination of Bangabandhu. The enemies were common and lots more have been added to the list. Her strong personality, iron will and lifelong commitment to the Liberation War ideals earned her the enmity of people opposed to them. She faces opposition at home and abroad but never gives in. Despite the World Bank's deliberate non-cooperation in the country's largest construction project, US Government's sanctions on the elite paramilitary force RAB (Rapid Action Battalion), and the global post-COVID-19 economic depression, Sheikh Hasina is carrying on with her development work.
Hasina is easily the epitome of what a prime minister of a 50-year-old country and a custodian of a nascent economy should be like. As one of us, she is guiding 160 million people on how to reach a common goal. We have seen her cooking food in the kitchen, wearing a handloom saree, wrapping its edge around her waist and grinding spices on the stone with her own hands; we have also seen her making rabble-rousing speeches at the Paltan Maidan. We have seen her walking barefoot on the sandy shores of the beach; we have also seen her taking local rickshaw van rides among village folks breaking security barriers. We have seen her giving the Rohingya children big hugs at their ramshackle camps; and we have also seen her striking the war criminals with iron fists. Hasina is a beautiful blend of simplicity and toughness.
Read PM: Returning from UNGA with friendship for Bangladesh
Today is Sheikh Hasina's 76th birthday. Wishes come flooding in from home and abroad. I have also a lot to say. But words fail me. On Tagore's 80th birthday as Mahatma Gandhi sent a telegram saying "Four score not enough. May you finish five", Tagore, wearied of age and illness, replied with thanks: "Four score is impertinence [and] five score intolerable." But on her 76th birthday, our HPM is quite hale and hearty. She enjoys life through work. She gently scolds the newsmen for reminding her of her age just for the fun of it. For sure she has proved that she has the 'impertinence' to live for 4 score years minus 4; and to finish full four and then five will not, perhaps, be 'intolerable' to her as it never appears that she has outlived her usefulness. She has approached 76 chronologically, but age could not wither her. She never feels old and weary. Except for 5 hours of sleep a day, she spends the rest of the time thinking of the good of her country and her people. She could have died with her parents on that fateful August night in 1975. But she survived. Maybe, in the nation's relay race, nature wanted Bangabandhu's baton to be passed on to her. Fortune smiled upon Bangladesh and we had Sheikh Hasina as the worthy heir of Bangabandhu and to his politics. She is our pride and joy.
Read What PM said on Russia-Ukraine war, Rohingya issue, climate action, terrorism at 77th UNGA
The writer is an academic, fictionist, columnist, translator, media personality and former vice chancellor of Kushtia Islamic University, Bangladesh. Email: [email protected]
World News Day: We’re all entitled to our opinions but not our own facts
Making a positive difference to someone’s life is the greatest gift a journalist can give. Perhaps an individual is heard for the first time, or an injustice is settled.
Those moments when a news editor picks up a phone to hear a scared voice say, ‘you are all I have left, I have nowhere else to turn’. The last stand between hope and defeat.
It is a sacred contract, as old as journalism itself yet the tenor of our times would try to divide the people from the newsrooms. If those who attempt to turn journalists into the enemy are successful, the people’s right to independent access to information will be lost. And as we all know a world where people are blinded from facts is a dangerous one.
During the global pandemic, record audience numbers were reported around the world as readers, viewers and listeners absorbed the news and information that saved lives. Nevertheless, an ever more vociferous minority pedalled a derogatory term, the so-called “mainstream media” – as if being together in a fact-based environment is a bad thing.
Read: Survey finds young people follow news, but without much joy
That’s because the facts can sometimes be uncomfortable, and journalists have a big responsibility to get them right.
We know that since World News Day began in 2018, the challenges facing the industry have only grown. We may better understand the commercial pressures and the ever-changing audience habits, but we still don’t do enough to explain ourselves.
That means newsrooms have their work cut out. Explaining methodology and how facts are uncovered has become as important as the facts themselves.
Those who are potential audience members consume most of their information in closed, fast-paced networks. We have seen examples time and again where small but active minority groups simply believe what they are told, often by powerful forces with something to hide. The journalist is used as bait in an attack against uncomfortable truths. As a result, the industry has to devote more time to reaching those who have already decided the facts even without possessing them.
Read: Philippines affirms news site shutdown order: Maria Ressa
Walled environments exist across the Internet preventing plurality of thought and opinion, fact and reality from being shared. Amid the myriad challenges facing us all, certainty is one of the least attractive traits on display.
World News Day, involving more than 500 newsrooms, is a global initiative aimed at improving media literacy and audience engagement. We include examples of how lives are improved when journalists tell a story. We showcase the efforts of small newsrooms as they represent the importance of community. We underpin all our work with the belief that access to information is a human right.
The speed of change, and the dangers and risks in society sometimes seem only to go in one direction leading to a global audience that is both exhausted and saturated with information. We have constructive roles to play amid the extraordinary news developments.
Read: No point in debating newspapers publishing video content online: Editors' Council
The convening power of independent journalism has never been more important, and sadly because of that hyper-relevance the risks and threats to journalists, your storytellers, only grows. The speed of polarization, an 18th century term used originally to identify the characteristics of light in photography, today makes agreement unfashionable. But as newsrooms around the world often say, we are all entitled to our opinions but we are not entitled to our own facts.
War, economic uncertainty, a determination to run roughshod over generational practices at our institutions are the changes facing the world. Journalism at its best is in the middle of it all, with a role to sew not division but mutual understanding and transparency.
World News Day exists to help the news industry to explain itself better, to involve the global audience in showcasing how accurate information makes life better.
The US president, Joe Biden, was born closer to Abraham Lincoln’s presidency than his own. That perspective shows less the age of the man and more the opportunities and advances that have been taken in the past century, raising with urgency the questions of where we go from here.
About the author:
David Walmsley is the Editor in Chief of the Globe and Mail and is the creator of World News Day.
Women and Men’s Cricket : Same day same game same win margin but …
Bangladesh women beat Ireland by 7 runs and Bangladesh men beat UAE by 7 runs in a rare coincidence, but it meant two very different reactions. The women’s team took the WC Qualifiers trophy three times in a row with yesterday’s victory, though Ireland fought hard.
Bangladesh men also played a practice match against a lowly rated UAE and had a close win, but it was embarrassing to watch. One team is going up while the other is in decline.
Read: A narrow escape: Bangladesh beat UAE by 7 runs in 1st T20
The Women
Bangladesh and Ireland Women, the two finalists, had already reached the World Cup stage, so the stake was low. However, it showed some interesting features.
The BD Women’s team is strong, but it still lacks the killer blow delivery capacity that a team needs to win on the global stage. Bangladesh did win the Asia Cup, beating India, but India has gone ahead and beat England last week. The West Indies men's team is not particularly strong, but their women's team—previous cup winners—is. So Bangladesh had better watch out about the possibility of bad days on the big stage.
Both India and Pakistan have also improved, and India’s 3-0 win against England last week is a reminder that while we did beat them, it’s not the same team anymore. And SA and others have better records than us.
One reason why the women’s team is not pushing up as much as it could be is a lack of sponsorship and investment. Globally, women’s cricket has yet to catch on, so ICC dole money is low for the qualifying countries. The media has only recently begun to get interested, and so promoting it as a money-making sport is important. This is already happening, but not enough. But betting sites are already active, which means more crowds and that will hopefully translate into funds for Women cricket.
Performance wise, Bangladesh women still remain inconsistent. Its batting is below par and the fall of 8 wickets in 5 overs, including 3 in the last, means much more improvement is needed. While others are hitting sixes, BDW rarely do. Its strength remains in bowling, but a difference of only 7 runs in the final means it could have gone the other way.
What was least impressive was the fielding. The girls didn't look fit and seemed sluggish in running and releasing the ball back. It was obvious Ireland took advantage of that to accumulate. But they won, and that is great.
Read: Bangladesh champions of ICC Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier 2022
And the Men ?
The least said about the men, the better. They were perfect clowns on the field and could neither bat nor bowl. Their fielding was spectacular as everyone, from commentators to spectators, ran out of words to describe them. If they have to sweat so much to beat an associate status team I think everyone should accept that it’s also at that level and not the test status.
So we will suffer more as we watch the men get bashed by everyone in the next WC. We will keep our fingers crossed and hope to get some relief from the women's team's WC performance in South Africa next February.
Read: Shakib Al Hasan shines in Caribbean Premier League
Rohingya problem needs a regional solution, Australian security expert writes
Trouble is once more breaking out at the Bangladesh-Myanmar border. Following multiple military incursions by the Myanmar military across the border, the Bangladesh Army is on high alert and is reviewing its options. Regarding Bangladesh's intentions to begin repatriating Rohingya refugees who are not accepted in their country, both parties are attempting to position themselves.
As this most recent altercation develops, it becomes clear that the Rohingya problem requires a regional solution, writes Dr David Brewster – one of Australia’s leading academic experts on strategy and security in the Indian Ocean region and South Asia – in Lowy Institute’s The Interpreter.
The Tatmadaw, the Myanmar military, has increasingly violated Bangladeshi territory over the past few weeks. This has included helicopter and jet overflights as well as shelling of areas close to Bangladeshi villages. The most recent incident occurred on September 16 and entailed a mortar attack on the refugee camp in "No Man's Land," which is located directly on the border between Bangladesh and Myanmar. The narrow border between the two nations has stranded thousands of Rohingya refugees for years. In the incident last week, five people were hurt, including Bangladeshis, and at least one person died.
These events can be considered a spillover from the ongoing separatist struggle in Rakhine State, Myanmar. But Bangladeshi officials privately feel that the Tatmadaw is deliberately attempting to sabotage the border between Myanmar and Bangladesh in order to thwart the planned return of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar. They wonder whether it is merely a coincidence that these episodes took place a few days before Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's speech to the UN General Assembly, during which she would ask for support from other countries for Bangladesh's intentions to repatriate the Rohingyas.
Read: Hasina breaks down in tears while talking about everyday ordeals of Rohingyas
Since 2017, after being ethnically cleansed from Rakhine State by Myanmar government forces and local nationalist groups, about one million Rohingya refugees have sought safety in Bangladesh. As their fate is increasingly in doubt between Bangladesh and Myanmar, a conflict between the two nations is theoretically on the horizon if the issue is not handled, Dr Brewster writes.
With aid from the international community, Bangladesh has established sizable camps close to the Myanmar border as a kind host for the Rohingya refugees. But as financing and attention from abroad dwindle and local Bangladeshi groups grow more hostile to the refugees, the pressure on the Bangladesh government from inside grows. The Bangladesh government must appear to be making serious efforts to repatriate refugees or find other places for them to live since elections are scheduled for the next year.
Early in 2022, Bangladesh and Myanmar resumed talks to repatriate a small number of Rohingyas to that country, with China helping to fund the construction of at least three receiving centres inside Myanmar. The pressure on Myanmar is now being increased by Bangladesh, who is also backing a case brought by the Gambia before the International Court of Justice alleging Myanmar of committing genocide. The UN General Assembly talk Sheikh Hasina gave this week is a part of an effort to keep the Rohingya problem, including their repatriation, in the public eye.
However, there is no reason to think that the Rakhine nationalists or the Myanmar government, who forcibly ejected the Rohingyas, would ever welcome their return. In fact, there has recently been discussion about removing even more of the surviving Rohingyas from Myanmar.
The latest border events are being viewed by the Bangladeshi administration in the context of its efforts to mobilise the international community in support of repatriations. The Tatmadaw's actions seem designed to elicit a reaction from Bangladesh. Planned repatriations could be stopped and more refugees could leave Myanmar under the cover of an insecure border and the fighting in Rakhine State, Dr Brewster writes.