Child rights activists, who also work for children welfare, have said that all international conventions and laws enacted for the protection of child’s rights and to keep them from various kinds of vulnerability have been “violated” by the “cheap bribery” of the child by the Prothom Alo journalist.
Over 50 rights activists, academics and eminent citizens made the observation in a statement giving reference to international conventions concerning child rights including the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) which is the most universally accepted human rights instrument, ratified by almost all countries in the world.
“Are we to presume that the journalist committing such a criminal offence cannot be touched because he belongs to the press corps? Is he above the law of the land? So, if a citizen files a case against the journalist (not the Government) how is it a violation of media freedom?” they said.
The statement blows up “flawed” western reportage that erroneously attributed the arrest to reporting on price hike, let alone a number of statements issued by a section of western bodies defending the journalist but clearly turning a blind eye to a wave of trouble descended upon the family and on the minor since that report by Prothom Alo.
The signatories to the statement include: ex-PSC chairman Ekram Ahmed, ex-DU VC Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique, ex-UGC Chairman Prof Abdul Mannan, ex-BSMMU VC Prof Dr Kamrul Hasan Khan, Shaheed Jaya Shyamoli Nasrin Chowdhury, painter Muniruzzaman Monir, ex-information commissioner Sadeka Halim, Rabindra University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Shah Azam, Tangail Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Md Forhad Hossain, Jessore University of Science and Technology Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Md Anwar Hossain, and Kurigram Agricultural University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Zakir Hossain.
Valiant freedom fighters Bichhu Jalal, Joynal Abedin, Ruhul Amin Majumder, Ahsanul Haque Minu, Bir Protik Mizanur Rahman Khan, Bir Protik Anwar Hossain Pahari, Bir Protik Rafiqul Islam, Bir Protik Baharuddin, Rafiqul Islam, Zahirul Islam, Fariduddin Ahmed, Mahfuz Khan, Freedom Fighter Abdul Quayyum, Lutfar Rahman, Kazi Abdul Mukim Santu, Prof Dr Mahmud Hassan, Prof Dr Kanak Kanti Barua, Prof Dr Shafiqul Alam Chowdhury, Prof Dr Zahirul Haque Sachchu, Prof Dr Suraiya Begum, Prof Dr AKM Mosharraf Hossain, Prof Dr Farooq Ahmed, Prof Dr Kamrul Hasan Khan, Prof Dr Purabi Rani Debnath, Professor Dr Sheuli Chowdhury and Dr Nuzhat Chowdhury also signed the statement.
Singer Shubra Dev, Shawdhin Bangla Betar Kendra artiste Bulbul Mahlanbish, actors Shaju Khadem, Jyotika Jyoti, Mir Sabbir, cultural activists Tusher Khan, Punam Priom, Culture activist Manas Bandyopadhyay, Action for Social Development (ASD) Executive Director MA Karim, Bangladesh Shishu Adhikar Forum (BSAF) Chairman Md Mahbubul Haque, Executive Director Aparajeyo Bangladesh Wahida Banu, Mongol Aloy Foundation President Nargis Sultana, Family and Community Empowerment Support Executive Director Saira Banu, Founder of Sporsho Shishu Foundation Ferdous Akik, Coalition for the Urban Poor executive director Khandaker Rebecca San Yat, and Nasima Akhtar Jolly, Program Director of National Girl Child Advocacy Forum signed the statement.
“This act of a 10 years old child who had been enticed with 10 Taka to parrot a scripted statement that suits the reporter’s narrative it is travesty of truth, it is not possible to accept the mischief and contravenes all basic guidelines concerning reporting on child as stipulated by international organisations”, they said, questioning letting such an offence go unpunished would only encourage the child abusers.
The parents of the child were quoted in the media as saying such an act has put them in trouble and pose a risk for their kid and confirmed no consent was taken from the parents before publishing the report.
Citing the UNICEF 2015 guidelines on Child online Protection clearly states in section 3-, the statement reminded that “Some programmes allow parents to monitor the texts and other communications that their children send and receive. If programmes of this type are to be used, it is important that this is discussed openly with the child, otherwise such conduct can be perceived as “spying” and may undermine trust within the family.”
“UNCRC aims at saving children from degrading treatment, criminal misconduct and child exploitation which includes bullying, child trafficking, sexual exploitation, domestic exploitation and also includes emotional abuse. The Prothom Alo’s journalist bribing the boy, alluring him to lie -will surly harm the mental health of the school going boy as he will be bullied in school, society will humiliate him for taking bribe but at this time when he needs support that journalist will not take his responsibility, but the Government would” read the statement.
On the other hand, the signatories called out the prompt reaction from some western bodies over the issuance of a statement in defence of Prothom Alo journalist, terming the act as a clear case of double standard.
So, if a citizen files a case against the journalist (not the Government) how is it a violation of media freedom? Are those votaries of media freedom, at home and abroad, who are up in arms over the case filed not supporting child exploitation or the act of bribery both of which constitute criminal offence?
The media freedom coalition of western countries, who don’t tolerate violation of child rights at home, gives a blind eye to it when it happens abroad in another country. What a double standard this is, added the statement.
Would your people at home tolerate such a flagrant violation of child rights? The child who has been enticed to put his lip up to a scripted quote with 10 Taka has been exposed to the world of lies and easy money and who can be sure that he would not take to the world of crime in future, added the statement.
It adds that those who are crying wolf over the case filed by an aggrieved citizen against the Prothom Ali’s journalist must know it is not filed by the government which is hauled over the coals.
It says one needs to be clear whether support for media freedom comes at a price by child exploitation, bribery, and fake news? Those who are blindly supporting and giving statements supporting this type of unethical journalism and exploitation of children by the media -are they against child rights and in favour of child exploitation and bribery?
Reiterating their stance for freedom of speech, the statement further reads “It is time the UN and the West clarify their position on these issues”.
