A multitude of dissenting voices: navigating the role of media in the 2024 July movement in Bangladesh

Abstract

In July 2024, the people of Bangladesh witnessed one of the most crucial and abrupt turning points in the history of the nation since 1971. What began as discontent over a government policy regarding certain jobs quickly turned into an intensive anti-government movement, fuelled by a string of attacks administered by the government. Both during and after the protests, the country’s media, both conventional and digital, have played a significant role in constructing public opinion. It has, however, also been used to weaponise this mass mobilisation by the government through various means. This paper is an in-depth examination of the role the media played in that student-led quota reform and later anti-government protests in Bangladesh from the 10th of July to the 5th of August, known mostly as the July Movement of Bangladesh. By delving into the multi-layered and complex media atmosphere of Bangladesh, this study not only highlights instances of suppression and censorship, but it also sheds light on the mobilising forces of media in times of socio-political crises. Moreover, to add a more nuanced approach, the research does not only focus on the media atmosphere during the July Movement but also on the way in which media shapes the discourse and public narrative in the aftermath of such social movements. It takes into account the activists of the movement, weaving their voices into every discussion ranging from surveillance and citizen journalism to, in fact, the tenuous current socio-political situation of the country. This thesis contributes to the scholarly exploration of the media landscape and its weaponisation and mobilising impact in Bangladesh, specifically in the context of such a mass social movement.