16 Charged With Killing 19-Year Old Over Sexual Harassment - Essay Sample

Introduction

The story is based on sixteen people who were charged in court for murdering a nineteen-year-old girl because of reporting of sexual harassment by the headmaster of her school. According to the BBC, the lady's murder was organized because she refused to withdraw her accusations. The case sparked protest in Bangladesh and revealed to the world about the danger faced by sexual harassment victims (Sabbir, 2019). Further, the article provides an additional story of the reactions of both the public and sexual harassment victims in the world regarding the murder (Sabbir, 2019). Also, it describes the specific events that led to Rafi's murder. Additionally, it provides links to another story that analyses the number of women killed in one day around the world.

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Article 2, CNN: 16 Charged in Bangladesh for Burning a Teenager Alive After She Reported Harassment

The article reports that sixteen people have been arrested for charges of having links to the murder Nusrat Jahan Rafi. The Deputy Inspector General in New Delhi told CNN that the girl had filed a case of sexual harassment against her school principal (Gupta, 2019). The police believe that the principal orchestrated the murder from the prison because he had already been taken in for the charges. The attackers hid their faces beneath burqas.

How is the story relevant to international welfare?

The story is relevant to international welfare because it focusses on the increased rates of women killed around the world and women rights. It indicates that sexual harassment victims are not protected enough by local authorities just like the case of Rafi who was murdered for refusing to withdraw charges against the school principal.

Many world leaders have been advocating for more seriousness in handling cases related to sexual assault, rape, and sexual harassment. Part of the problem is contributed by the media who have been accused of not protecting women enough. Instead of airing stories that can contribute to perpetrators taking accountability, media had focussed on covering stories which seem to either provide limited information or belittle women.

Critical Analysis

The two news articles reflect the concept of voice and bias in media reporting. Admittedly, both articles are based on the murder of a nineteen-year-old girl who refused to withdraw a sexual harassment charge against the school principal (Gupta, 2019). However, an analysis of the article shows that there is a difference in how the two media houses have communicated the story.

BBC has incorporated the voice of the girl and provide in-depth details of what led to the girls' murder. First, she recorded a video saying that she will fight crime until her last breath. Also, they explain the circumstances that led the perpetrators to murder her using kerosene. They explain the outcry of the public and the devastation of the family members, which led to the matter being taken seriously by the authorities. Thus, it is clear that they are targeting the empathy of the readers and advocating for more protection of sexual harassment victims as they seek justice.

CNN has failed to provide in-depth details leading to the arrest of the sixteen people and left out the voice of the victim (Sabbir, 2019). Their article provides information on what led to their arrest with limited information on the public outcries and demonstrations that pushed the police to take action. Including such information could have added weight to the issue by making the reader empathetic and advocating for action from the international community.

How has the story been interpreted and communicated by the two media houses?

BBC has communicated the story from an advocacy perspective. They are against the increased rates of women being harassed and killed. They are calling out the authorities to protect women (Sabbir, 2019). Their detailed description of the events that led to the arrest of the sixteen people, the public outcry, devastation of Rafi's family, and additional link to a story on the high number of women killed in one day around the world shows that they want the problem to stop.

However, CNN has reported the story as a way of fulfilling their obligation of just informing people on what is happening around the world. Their perspective fails to offer sufficient information and appeal to the emotions of the reader. Instead of using the media as a tool for social change, CNN has used this news as a commodity to promote its brand of providing news from all sectors of the world.

Personal Reaction to the Story

I am saddened that a teenager reported having been sexually harassed by a person who should have been protecting her, and died because of it. I believe that such a story should be communicated to call actions in ending the murder of women around the world, which has been increasing. Thus, I believe that the news should have been communicated as done by the BBC.

References

Gupta, S. (2019, May 29). 16 charged in Bangladesh for burning a teenager alive after she reported harassment. Retrieved from CNN: https://edition.cnn.com/2019/05/29/asia/bangladesh-sexual-assault-intl/index.html

Sabbir, M. (2019, May 29). Nusrat Jahan Rafi: 16 charged in Bangladesh for burning girl alive. Retrieved from BBC : https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-48441604