You have objection to sitting with women, how will you represent them: BSD candidate Manisha

Barisal-5 constituency MP candidate Dr. Manisha Chakraborty has said that the ethics of journalism have been questioned in the incident that took place on a private television channel's popular talk show 'Janata Darbar'. She alleged that she was treated discriminatoryly and misogynistically on the show.

Dr. Manisha, a candidate nominated by the Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (BSD) in the 13th National Parliament election and supported by the Democratic United Front, gave details about the matter in her Facebook live speech on Wednesday night.

Dr. Manisha said that although she was invited to the talk show, she was asked to leave the stage without any prior announcement during the show. At that time, the channel authorities said that one guest would leave in each episode and would join again later. However, after the show, she noticed that this did not happen to any other guests.

According to her, it was a ‘false excuse’, which is evidence of a lack of transparency and professionalism. She alleged that she was asked to leave as a candidate supported by Charmonai from Barisal-5 constituency who was participating in the event felt uncomfortable sitting on the same stage with a woman.

Dr. Manisha said that this is an extreme manifestation of misogyny. What is more worrying is that the channel authorities have decided to remove me by condoning that attitude.

She described the incident as a violation of journalistic ethics, disrespectful and unwanted behavior. According to her, removing an invited guest without notice in this way is a clear violation of professional journalistic standards.

Dr. Manisha also said that if I had been informed in advance that there would be a guest at the event who was reluctant to sit with a woman and because of that I might have to leave, then I would not have attended the event.

She also commented that not informing the guests of such conditions or situations in advance is against the ethics of journalism.

In the last part of his speech, he said that the big question is whether a person who cannot sit and discuss with half of the population—that is, women—can be a representative of all people.

According to him, by giving space to such an attitude, the concerned television channel has set an undesirable and morally questionable precedent. On Thursday, the bus owners issued an official statement expressing strong condemnation and protest over the incident.