Thursday | 16 January 2025 | Reg No- 06
বাংলা
   
Thursday | 16 January 2025 | Epaper

Moral decay in Bangladesh: Causes, effects, and ways to address it

Published : Wednesday, 25 December, 2024 at 12:00 AM  Count : 502
Major Md MahmudunnabI, psc, Artillery
Introduction: Moral decay in society is a pressing concern encompassing the decline of ethical values and principles that guide human behaviours. Morality is considered the first and foremost asset of a human being. A man having this quality do good to himself, his family, society, the country he was born and living in and the world as well. Aristotle believed that, while any state must prepare its citizens for useful pursuits (the economic and the military), these are secondary. It is true, he said, that they must be able to do necessary or useful acts; but they must be even more able to do good acts. According to experts, ethical standards are eroding in our culture, adversely affecting individuals, groups and societies. This article explores the root causes of moral decay, its impact on individuals and communities, and potential strategies for its restoration.

Understanding Moral Decay: Moral decay refers to gradual erosion of ethical principles, values, and social norms within a society. It may take many different forms, including less empathy and compassion, a breakdown in trust, a lack of accountability, and a disrespect for honesty and integrity. Technological development, cultural transformations, societal changes, and individualistic mindsets are some of the factors that contribute to moral deterioration.

Principal Causes of Moral Decay in Bangladesh and Its Effects 

Media, Social media and Technology and their Influence: The pervasive influence of social media (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, Telegram, Tiktok, etc), mass media, and technology has significantly contributed to the decline of moral values among Bangladeshi youth. The digital age exposes young people to vast amounts of information, much of which promotes materialism, violence, abuse, and explicit vulgar content. This exposure can desensitise persons to negative behaviours and blur the lines between right and wrong. Significantly, social media platforms worsen this issue by fostering superficial values and encouraging instant gratification, decreasing empathy and accuracy. Excessive use of social media can lead to isolation, depression, and a decline in real world interactions. Also, exposure to diverse viewpoints through social media can lead to a fragmented moral landscape where traditional values are challenged or disregarded. This phenomenon can create a moral vacuum where actions are judged based on popularity rather than ethical considerations.

Breakdown of Family Structures and Loss of Cultural Identity: Rapid urbanization tends to disrupt social structures community bond and the weakening of family ties which can lead to a decline in traditional values, a lack of moral guidance and loss of cultural identity. In modern times, the fragmentation of traditional family structures has also played a crucial role in moral decay. Nowadays, Bangladeshi young people tend to live without parents or like to live in a nuclear family. In the absence of parents, grandparents, and guardians, many young people are deprived of guidance and support from family members who were once critical in instilling ethical principles. This breakdown results in a divide between generations, where older people may hold traditional values. In contrast, younger persons are affected by diverse external factors such as popular culture, peer influence and unbridled independence, resulting in limited family ties. A lack of strong family ties can lead to increased antisocial behaviour and a diminished sense of family and community. 

Disparities and decline of Trust: Corruption undermines public trust in institutions and can lead to a decline in moral standards. In Bangladesh, inequalities and social injustices in different sectors in the society can lead to trust and ethical behaviour breakdown. This can create a sense of resentment and a lack of faith in democratic, bureaucratic, and administrative institutions. This weakens democratic institutions and makes it harder to address collective problems. A decline in trust can create a climate of suspicions and distrust between citizens and their government, as well as between different groups within society. This can lead to increase polarization and social division.

Relentless Pursuit of Wealth and Economic Inequality: As in many developing countries, in Bangladesh, the persistent pursuit of money can contribute to moral decay by creating a culture where ethical issues are surpassed by material gain or wealth. This can lead to corruption and irregularities in non-governmental and governmental institutions and businesses. The government and non-government officials may receive bribes or engage in nepotism to amass wealth. According to Transparency International's 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index, Bangladesh scored 24 on a scale from 0 ("highly corrupt") to 100 ("very clean") among 180 countries worldwide. Such corruption may lead individuals to compromise their honesty and integrity by lying, cheating, or exploiting others. Also, it can contribute to broken relationships and a decline in moral teaching at the family level. Importantly, the relentless pursuit of money and wealth encourages young people to earn money by any means, such as snatching, robbery and stealing, as evidenced recent times in few cities of Bangladesh. 

Potential Strategies to Address Moral Decay: Now, the question is how to address moral decay at the individual, family, community, and institutional levels. To mitigate moral decay in Bangladesh, the concerned authorities should undertake a multifaceted approach involving parents, educators, and policymakers.

Addressing the Influence of Media and Media Literacy: Educating individuals on how to critically analyse media content and identify bias and misinformation will contribute on maintaining moral values. Parents should create transparent media and social media use rules, including time limits and content restrictions. Parents can maintain open lines of communication about how much time their children should spend on screens and what types of content they should consume. As few developed countries like in Australia, the Bangladesh Government should legislate Sixteen (16) as the minimum age for access to social media. Promoting digital literacy will help individuals navigate the digital world responsibly.

Strengthening Family Ties and Reviving Family Values: Several institutions such as the family, school and organisation should undertake a few measures to prevent the fragmentation of traditional families and moral decay among Bangladeshi people. For example, all family members should engage in regular activities, including family meals and outdoor entertainment, to reinforce relationships and trust and create a supportive environment for children and adolescents. Also, primary and secondary schools' curricula should include content related to traditional values such as respect, family cohesion, responsibility, and empathy. Such steps at the family and school levels can help children develop a solid moral ground. Organizing community events and programs will also promote family values and social cohesion.

Reducing Disparities: Third, the Government of Bangladesh should enact anti-discrimination policies to protect the vulnerable, poor and marginalised groups.  Such policies should involve different programs targeting these groups, including interest-free microfinance loans for poor students and vocational training programs to equip young people with the necessary skills relevant to the job market. Furthermore, Bangladesh can undertake cash transfer programs for the poorest households from marginalised groups to ease immediate economic difficulties and optimise their living standards.

Promoting Anti-Corruption and Good Governance: It is crucial to provide regular training on ethical standards and anti-corruption practices among government and non-government employees. The concerned authorities should also audit government programs and investments to detect all sorts of wrongdoing and hold those responsible for corruption accountable. Such steps largely depend on the implementation of existing laws on corruption. Implementing strong accountability mechanism will contribute to reduce corruption and ensure transparency in government. At the same time, strengthening law enforcement agencies will deter crime and punish offenders. Such anti-corruption and promoting good governance can help maintaining the moral values of people in Bangladesh by promoting an environment of honesty, faith, and responsibility. 

Strengthening Ethical and Religious Practices: Incorporating moral education into the curriculum will instil values like honesty, integrity, and empathy. Encouraging ethical and religious practice will help individuals to be minimalism and create a lifestyle that brings peace and fulfilment. The Holy Quran serves as a comprehensive guide to ethics and virtue, outlining moral principles and delineating the pathway to righteous conduct that fosters a fulfilling life for all members of society. In this context, the life of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) exemplifies these teachings, providing Muslims with a clear and tangible model of the highest moral standards. In the Quran, there are mentions of numerous moral values that a Muslim should incorporate in his or her character.(Al-Quran Sura Imran: 17). Morality develops the conscious of human beings by which a man can judge a thing whether it is good or bad, right or wrong. Continuous practice of moral virtues and a conscious effort to internalize those qualities can lead to the formation of a morally good character.

Conclusion: No single measure can reduce moral decay and its impact on society's people, as moral decay is rooted in various social influences such as media, family dynamics, education systems, and government policies. However, it is clear that, addressing social decay is very much crucial for building a more just, equitable and cohesive future for Bangladesh.  Therefore, it is essential to follow a multifaceted approach to identify the root causes of moral decay and address its effects on the people of Bangladesh. 

The writer is an Army Officer



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