Bongo Bazar Fire: A Wake-Up Call for Bangladesh's Safety Measures

Project 9

Course Name: Online Journalism Course Code: MSJ3152 Project Type: Multimedia News Story Project Name: Bongo Bazar Fire: A Wake-up Call for Bangladesh’s Safety Measures Project Date: Spring 2023

Project Description:

I developed a multimedia news story for my Online Journalism course, on the Bongo Bazar fire, focusing on its causes, impact, and implications for fire safety in Bangladesh. I presented the story through a WordPress-based website, designed as a mock digital news outlet similar to professional platforms. I combined written reporting with visuals and structured formatting to create an engaging and informative piece, reflecting the standards and practices of contemporary online journalism.

Project Justification:

I chose this topic to highlight a critical and recurring issue in Bangladesh, which is fire safety negligence in commercial spaces. The Bongo Bazar fire exposed serious gaps in safety measures despite prior warnings. Through this project, I aimed to emphasize accountability and raise public awareness. It also allowed me to explore multimedia storytelling and understand how digital journalism can play an important role in addressing issues of public interest.

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Students’ Name Sammi Ara Rushi Fahteen Hossain Students’ ID 193012061 201012076 Section 1 Total Marks 100 Marks obtained

Problem Statement and Description:

You are working on a reporting project on issue of public interest, social problems, human rights, environment and its Remedies. You must find an issue of public concern from any aforementioned topics. The report should have newsworthy element or interesting. The story may have the character, development, scenes and narrative storytelling format. Beside the textual elements, you have to insert multimedia content to engage the target audience in the ever-changing online platforms.

Assignment goals

• To demonstrate journalistic reporting skills.
• To create web package story to combine text, visuals, audio or video, and user generated content in an informative, digital-driven and compelling manner.
• To prepare students for the online news media.

Target Audience: General audience of online news portal

Goals and Expectations:

• Find an interesting and timely topic with news value and public interest (such as recent fire incident at Bangabazar)
• Write a story using user generated content.
• Make an original photo story.
• Find an interesting news angel that can locate to the issue.
• The written text will have the basic information, explain the issue and provide background and context,
• Multimedia (photos, videos and citizen content-Tweet) will convey how the issue is connected to real people and their lives. The multimedia content will show standalone with text.
• The story should be published online (WordPress) and PDF version to be sent to Google Classroom. The hard copy must submit to the faculty within the due time. Story should have a clean layout and compelling presentation.
• You must give the credits on story text (byline), photos and videos. *

Constraint:

• You must ensure your physical safety
• You must not work on any topic that requires cost of huge of money
• You must be care of legal issues. So, you must not work on any issues that may require facing legal issues

Deliverables:

• This is a group assignment. There will be two students in each group. Each student must submit a soft copy of their write-up and also upload a complete web package story on WordPress.
• A story using user generated content
• A story audio story with its script
• Explanation of ethical aspect of the story you prepared
• Elements of the Online Article: Headline, Teaser, Text, Subhead, Graphics (Static, Interactive, Maps), Picture/Photographs, Audio (Interviews, Natural sound, Podcast, Video, Slide Shows ( Stills only, Still+Music+Video), Links (Internal, External)
• Your write-up will be evaluated based on its completeness, accuracy, and clarity.
• You will receive a significant deduction for copying materials (except the data & statistics) that have already been published.
• You can write it in English or Bangla.
• Send your submission with a cover page containing your name, student ID & section
• Due date: Submit hard copy to the faculty on May 2, 2023

Submission deadline: March 2, 2023

Assessment Rubric Activities Tasks % of marks Marks of obtained Reporting

• Choose newsworthy topic and news angel

• People will share their knowledge, expertise and experiences.

• You must attribute the name of sources unless your story presents safety or sensitive issue

• Take at least 3 relevant photos, Record 2 video interviews with relevant people 30

  Writing

• An interesting & compiling headline

• Complete caption, by-line, date, photo, video

• Structure of the story

• Hyperlinks of related facts or data

• Clean & compiling writing

• Maximum Words – 700-800 30

  Multimedia

• One (1) compiling featured image

• 2 video interviews with relevant people.

• The video should follow the following requirements: ( 1-minute length, proper Aston (name of the interviewee), Shoot with any device

• Edit with Filmora/Adobe Premier/ or any other software/mobile editing apps.

• Upload at least two (2) different photos and give proper captions 2

• Collect relevant one (1) Tweet published by citizen journalist and embed the link in your post

• Quality of multimedia

• Overall presentation and story layout

  40

Keep in Mind:

• You must read the instruction carefully before writing your answer.
• You should download the question paper, and write your answer at the recommended place.
• Total Marks: 100 [will weigh 40% in the final grading]
• You must write your assignment in English, and your answer must be computer composed.
• Deadline of Submission: 11:59 PM, Thursday, May 2, 2023
• You must submit your assignment at the Google Class Room using your account. No Email submission will be accepted
• You will also submit hardcopy of your assignment at the first class after the midterm exam week, and get signed your exam attendance.
• You may consult published academic journals, articles and books etc. In that case, you must write it in your own language and give proper citations*. Any plagiarism will be considered as punishable offence, and it will severely affect your grades.
• You must submit your articles in single MS Word file. You MUST NOT send your assignment in PDF or other file formats.
• The name of your submission file should be as follows: [Your Name] _ [Your Student ID] _ [Online Journalism-1] _ [Spring 2023].
• You will use Times New Roman Font.
• Keep one-inch margin in each side and line space 1.5 inch. You will submit all the answers in ONE file. Keep in mind, NOT more than one file.
• The Course Teacher will run a Similarity-Check in Turnitin. Papers with Similarity index higher than 20% will not be accepted.
• If the answer of two or more students matches completely, or certain paragraphs used in the answer exactly match, all the students having such similarity will get ZERO. No explanation will be accepted in this regard.
• For any guidance, do communicate with me. You can contact me at: 01718674830 / aminul.islam@ulab.edu.bd

[Begin writing from here]

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Bongo Bazar Fire: A Wake-up Call for Bangladesh's Safety Measures

Photo: Collected

The Bongo Bazar fire was a devastating occurrence that shook the entire country. It serves as a sharp reminder of the need for fire safety precautions and proper emergency response infrastructure. The government has announced an investigation into the incident and has committed to hold those responsible accountable for any shortcomings in safety procedures accountable.

This is mostly because of the fact that the fire service department of Bangladesh already informed the Bongo Bazar market committee/authority about the potential threat of catching fire in the market a few years back and they also hung a notice board regarding the issue.

The tragedy has also prompted concerns about the safety of the country's other markets and commercial structures. Bangladesh has a long history of severe fires, many of which have been blamed on a lack of proper safety precautions and emergency response infrastructure. The government and local governments must act quickly to guarantee that such disasters do not occur again.

The Bongo Bazar fire has also underlined the importance of raising public knowledge about fire prevention precautions. The government and civil society organizations must collaborate to educate people about the hazards of fire and how to prevent it. This includes making certain that buildings have proper fire safety systems in place, such as sprinklers, fire alarms, and emergency exits, and that people are taught how to respond in the event of a fire.

In summary, the Bongo Bazar fire was a sad tragedy that resulted in severe damage and loss of life. The catastrophe serves as a stark reminder of the need for fire safety precautions and proper emergency response infrastructure. The government and local governments must take immediate action to guarantee that such disasters do not occur again, and the public must be educated on fire safety procedures to avoid such tragedies from recurring.

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The Daily Star’s Tweet about the tragedy on Twitter

Link to my multimedia news story: https://fahteenhossain.wordpress.com/2023/05/08/bongo-bazar-fire-a-wake-up-call-for-bangladeshs-safety-measures/

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Reference:

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJscfvzZsT8

2. https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/accidents-fires/news/bangabazar-fire-4-firefighters-injured-mob-attacks-fire-service-hq-3288351

3. https://twitter.com/dailystarnews/status/1643106999901765633?s=20

4. https://cdn.knightlab.com/libs/juxtapose/latest/embed/index.html?uid=ec7e358a-ec8f-11ed-b5bd-6595d9b17862

Learnings:

• Improved practical skills in multimedia journalism and digital storytelling
• Gained experience in structuring and publishing content using WordPress
• Learned to present complex and sensitive issues clearly and responsibly
• Enhanced understanding of ethical reporting and factual accuracy
• Developed awareness of handling real life tragedies with sensitivity
• Strengthened ability to use journalism for awareness and social impact

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