Barisal, Bangladesh — Dr Monisha Chakraborty, the Bangladesh Socialist Party (BSP) nominee for the Barisal-5 constituency, has publicly criticised a popular private television talk show for what she describes as unethical conduct and gender bias during a recent broadcast.
Speaking in a Facebook Live session on Wednesday night, Dr Chakraborty alleged that the channel’s management behaved inappropriately towards her and condoned discriminatory treatment against women. She claimed that midway through the programme ‘Jonotar Dorbar’, she was unexpectedly asked to leave the stage.
“According to the show’s stated rules, guests are to be asked to leave the stage sequentially,” she said. “However, I observed that no other participant faced similar treatment. It appears to me that this was a fabricated pretext, highlighting a lack of transparency and integrity.”
Incident Details
Dr Chakraborty explained that the decision to remove her arose because another candidate from Barisal-5 reportedly felt uncomfortable sitting alongside a woman. “This is a blatant expression of misogyny, and the channel management endorsed it by enforcing the decision,” she added, describing the action as contrary to journalistic ethics and basic courtesy.
She further emphasised that no prior warning was given about the presence of a guest who might object to sitting next to a woman. “Had this been communicated in advance, I would have reconsidered my participation,” she stated.
Comments on Representation
Dr Chakraborty questioned the suitability of such candidates as representatives of the public. “If someone cannot sit and engage in dialogue with half the population—women—can they truly represent everyone? This is a question that demands reflection,” she said. She warned that the channel’s approach sets an unwelcome precedent and raises serious ethical concerns for media conduct.
BSP Response
The Barisal district committee of BSP issued a formal statement on Thursday, strongly condemning the incident and voicing protest against the discriminatory behaviour.
Summary of Incident
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | Dr Monisha Chakraborty removed from a private talk show stage |
| Time | Wednesday night, before and after Facebook Live broadcast |
| Reason Given | Another participant felt uncomfortable sitting beside a woman |
| Allegations | Misogyny, breach of journalistic ethics, misconduct |
| Response | Strong condemnation and protest by BSP Barisal district committee |
| Impact | Raises ethical concerns, questions media transparency and fairness |
This incident has sparked debate about gender sensitivity in media platforms and the standards of professional conduct in political talk shows, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by women in public discourse.