Effect of Trial by Media in Bangladesh: A Critical Analysis

Abstract

A popular notion goes that ‘whoever controls the media controls the mind’. Media is called the mirror of our society. Mass media is the only source to get credible and authentic information about worldwide events. So willingly or unwillingly, media is the controller of mass people’s minds and has a significant role in individual's decision-making. Recently, several incidents in Bangladesh have received extensive coverage on social and mainstream media. Most of these incidents are related to infernal murders or other heinous crimes prevalent in society. Everyone from the mass people to the elite classes was interested in the events and sharp eyewink on the prosecution. On this occasion, the media also created a lively atmosphere and started promoting those topics to a large extent. But the media is not a court and is not bound to be impartial regarding preaching their ideology and viewpoint. On the other hand, each topic is so sensitive that any biased information and public opinion can play a serious impact on the judicial process. This writing tries to critically analyze and find out the effect of trials on media and how it can influence a free and fair trial in Bangladesh.