The Satire Shift: Can Humor Save Democracy? | CN News

In this episode, we explore a subtle but significant shift in Bangladesh’s political culture through the lens of humor and satire. For decades, political cartoons, memes, and satire have come at a heavy cost—often inviting lawsuits, harassment, or digital security crackdowns. But recent events suggest the tone may be changing.

The discussion gained momentum after Tarique Rahman, Acting Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), publicly reacted to online memes and satire about himself—not with outrage, but with acceptance. From sharing a critical 2009 cartoon by Mehedi Haque to recalling how legendary cartoonist Shishir Bhattacharjee once regularly satirized the Rahman family, Rahman appears to be embracing the right to mock.

This video analyzes what that stance means in a country where cartoonists like Ahmed Kabir Kishore have faced severe repression, and where political power has long been shielded from ridicule. Is this tolerance genuine? Could humor become a democratic safety valve? And can satire help dismantle Bangladesh’s entrenched “culture of silence”?

We also compare this moment with practices in established democracies—where leaders are expected to endure public ridicule—and ask a simple but crucial question: If a leader cannot handle a cartoon, can they handle a crisis?

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