Exploring the Impacts of the Misuse of Social Media Power on Premeditated Tactics: Threats and Strategies in the Bangladesh Context of Communal Violence

Abstract

In September 2012, a simple photo said to show a burnt holy Quran, the religious text of Islam, was tagged on Buddhist boy’s social network site Facebook that allegedly insulted Islam triggered a rippling fury that led to the brutal destruction of Buddhist temples and houses at Ramu, a village located in the Cox’s Bazar district of south-eastern Bangladesh. The antecedents and repercussions surrounding violent incidents at Ramu negatively affected the balance of peace and security in the two neighbouring countries Bangladesh and Myanmar (Burma). Although it is said that the violence in Ramu occurred due to a perceived insult to Islam, there were other contributing factors underlying the force of the reaction. Firstly, the minority Rohingya Muslims living in the neighbouring country of Myanmar have been oppressed by majority Myanmar Buddhists for a long time which builds up an underlying religious tension in the area. Secondly, minority Muslims have been victims in other countries in the region such as Sri Lanka, where hard line Buddhists often targeted both Muslims and Christians. Therefore, it is evident that the occurrence of communal violence in modern society of Bangladesh is premeditated tactics for which the misuse of social media plays a vital role. This paper aims to address an overview of the power of the misuse of social network sites such as Facebook which is also a cause to negatively affect the balance of peace and security in modern society. With reference to the communal violence occurred in Bangladesh, this paper also addresses how the misuse of social media transforms into a political strategy which places the common people at a distinct disadvantage for which particularly minorities are under danger in Bangladesh. This paper is divided into three parts, part one addresses the occurrence of violence in Bangladesh due to misuse of social media which was influenced by the targeted violence against minority Muslims in Myanmar. Part two will explain ways to prevent violence based upon ethical considerations supported in the doctrine of nonviolence in the Buddhist perspective. Part three will propose the necessary measures to foster peace-building through which the long lasting violence in Bangladesh and Myanmar may terminate.