Resource Mobilization theory
refers to the necessary capabilities and resources for the development and
success of a social movement. For instance- knowledge, money, media, and
support from a group of influential leaders. Bangladesh, a country in South
Asia has been through several human rights movements as we are in the era of
digital communication, social media acts as a platform for people to express
their feelings and spread awareness regarding the movements. In the digital
age, with the help of social media, the human rights movement in Bangladesh for
example- Road Safety Movement in 2018 and Shahbag Movement in 2013 has
succeeded.
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| Student Protest Road Safety |
On July 29, 2018, two young students were killed by an
unlicensed public bus driver in Dhaka. After the incident, thousands of
students gathered together to improve road safety and demand justice for the
death of two high school students whether it be on the streets or social media
platforms. On the streets, the student protesters checked for a valid license
for every public and private vehicle. Gradually people of different age groups
started to join the student protesters. This movement gained momentum through
social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter using hashtags such as
#WeWantJustice. Through these social media platforms, this movement gained the
attention of a huge number of people and as more people were joining the protest
on social media it became trending globally. Student protests on the streets
continued until they were physically attacked. However, the protest on social
media platforms continued to expand, and the growing audience base started to
include some celebrities and people from outside Bangladesh.
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| Protesters Demanding Punishment for War Criminals |
In February 2013, Shahbag Movement took place in the capital
city of Bangladesh, Dhaka, which demanded the death penalty for Abdul Quader
Mollah. Abdul Quader Mollah, a senior leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami party
received life imprisonment for the crimes he committed but according to the
crimes he committed during Bangladesh's War of Independence in 1971, he
received a lenient penalty, said the protesters. According to a BBC report, the
Shahbag movement was one of the biggest movements which happened in
Bangladesh’s history, which included demanding justice through social media as
well. Through social media platforms such as Facebook, and Twitter more people
got to know about the protest and existing protesters got support from people
outside and inside Bangladesh, human rights activists and organizations around
the world joined and supported the movement as well. Although this movement got
widespread support Bangladesh Government did not change its decision. However,
social media achieved its goal as it succeeded in spreading awareness among a
massive amount of people.
To summarize it all, we can say that although these movements could not reach their ultimate destination, however, people got to know about the power that social media holds. Moreover, through these platforms, people get the chance to raise their voices, organize a protest, ask for justice, and raise awareness.
