Female Candidate Barred on Sexist Grounds

Barisal-5 Candidate Questions Ethics of TV Channel

Dr. Monisha Chakravorty, the Bangladesh Socialist Party (BSP) nominee for the Barisal-5 constituency and a candidate supported by the Democratic United Front, has raised serious concerns about journalistic ethics following an incident on a popular talk show.

Speaking on Facebook Live on Wednesday evening, Dr. Chakravorty recounted an episode during the privately-run television programme Jonotar Dorbar (“People’s Court”), in which she alleges she was unfairly asked to leave the stage midway through the broadcast.

According to Dr. Chakravorty, the channel’s management informed her that guests would be asked to step aside in turn during the programme and later rejoin. However, she noted that this “rotational exit” did not occur with any other guest, which she described as a “false pretext revealing a lack of transparency and integrity.”

Allegations of Gender Discrimination

Dr. Chakravorty’s complaint centres on what she perceives as blatant gender bias. She claims a rival candidate from Char Monai, also contesting Barisal-5, expressed discomfort at sharing the stage with a woman, leading to her being removed. She stated:

“This was an extreme display of misogyny, endorsed by the channel’s authorities. Such conduct is unethical, discourteous, and contrary to the principles of professional journalism.”

She emphasised that the absence of prior notification regarding the rival candidate’s refusal to sit beside a female guest constitutes a clear breach of journalistic standards.

“Had I been informed beforehand that a participant would be unwilling to sit beside a woman, I would have declined to appear on the programme,” Dr. Chakravorty explained.

Implications for Representation and Ethics

Reflecting on the broader implications, Dr. Chakravorty posed a pointed question:

“Can someone who cannot engage in discussion with half the population—women—truly represent all constituents?”

She criticised the channel for setting what she considers an unwelcome and ethically questionable precedent.

The Bangladesh Socialist Party condemned the incident on Thursday, issuing a strong statement denouncing the treatment of Dr. Chakravorty.

Summary of Incident

The incident has reignited debates on ethical broadcasting and gender sensitivity in political media forums, raising questions about how women candidates are treated in public discourse.