Discover the impact of French media translations on understanding Bangladesh's global challenges. Dive into the nuances and broaden your perspective with this insightful analysis—read now and learn more!
The study of Bangladesh in French media and its translation analysis plays a crucial role in understanding how the country’s geopolitical, cultural, and social narratives are conveyed internationally. This assignment provides an in-depth examination of the media representation and translation strategies that influence global perceptions of Bangladesh. For students and researchers navigating this complex topic, professional assignment help service can be invaluable. Utilizing such services ensures clarity, coherence, and academic rigor in presenting analytical insights. Whether dealing with media discourse analysis or translation intricacies, assignment help service assists in structuring content effectively and integrating relevant sources. They also help address language barriers and maintain the integrity of cultural contexts, which is critical when analyzing foreign media representations. This assignment not only reflects on the thematic portrayal of Bangladesh but also explores the challenges and nuances faced in translation. Overall, leveraging an assignment help service facilitates a thorough, well-organized exploration of Bangladesh’s depiction in French media, making it accessible for academic audiences and enhancing the quality of scholarly work.
In the era of globalization, the role of translation has become increasingly significant in facilitating cross-cultural communication and understanding. Interpretation breaks language and cultural barriers, as well as facilitates the exchange of information between different groups, thus improving understanding between them (Schleiermacher & Bernofsky, 2021). This function is very important, especially in the field of journalism, where translation of news articles accurately will define the international perception and feedback. The relevance of this process is most acute in relation to multifaceted and contentious topics like climate change and socio-political conflicts, which are covered with reference to various languages and cultures.
News articles translation is not a mere word for word translation but a process that entails a comprehension of both source and target culture (Tursunovich, 2023). Cultural implications, socio-political backgrounds, and emotional connotations should be translated accurately since misunderstanding might occur, and this makes people develop a broad global perspective on important concerns (Toury, 2021). Therefore the the ability to translate is essential in developing and expanding people’s perceptions of global concerns towards shared causes and solutions.
The translation of news articles is crucial for several reasons, particularly in the context of global issues like climate change and humanitarian crises. Translating news allows vital information to be shared across linguistic barriers, reaching diverse, multilingual audiences and ensuring that critical messages are understood globally (Benjamin & Rendall, 2021). This becomes especially important when translating such messages as these messages contain information on the topics of concern or emergencies and might help shape the public’s understanding of those emergencies in different cultures or even aid in the organization of international interventions.
In the case of Bangladesh—a country frequently in the global spotlight due to environmental disasters and humanitarian crises such as the Rohingya refugee situation—translation plays a pivotal role in ensuring that the international community is well-informed about the country's socio-political challenges. For instance, natural disasters such as floods, cyclones, and rising sea levels have profound impacts on both local and global communities (Tursunovich, 2023).
However, the decision to focus on French-language articles, rather than Bengali or English, is driven by the distinct geopolitical and humanitarian perspectives offered by French journalism. French media, particularly from France and other Francophone countries, often emphasize international diplomacy, European policy frameworks, and humanitarian interventions in a way that English and Bengali media may not. This includes coverage of how international bodies like the United Nations, the European Union, and French NGOs are involved in addressing crises in Bangladesh.
French articles, for instance, may place a stronger emphasis on global climate agreements like the Paris Accord, in which France plays a leading role. They often highlight France’s engagement in South Asia from the perspective of global environmental policy and its diplomatic efforts to address issues like the Rohingya refugee crisis. These articles frequently provide a European or international legal context that is underrepresented in Anglophone media, thus offering insights into global responses and multilateral strategies (Selvarajah, and Fiorito, 2023). This lens therefore offers the most important comparative view that enhances the appreciation of crises in the international arena and the effects locally.
Furthermore, French-language journalism often approaches humanitarian crises with a nuanced focus on international legal frameworks and ethical considerations regarding refugees, migration, and asylum, which may not be as prominent in Bengali or English coverage. This lens offers valuable insights for an international audience, particularly those in academia or policy-making who are seeking to understand how local issues like those in Bangladesh are framed within broader global narratives (Emmrich, et al. 2023). This view reveals how French environmentalism intersect with power politics to influence global discourses.
Therefore, translating French news articles into English for this dissertation serves to fill a specific information gap. It equips English-speaking readers—who may lack access to these French perspectives—with a broader, more nuanced understanding of Bangladesh’s socio-political context. These translations are essential for fostering informed international debates and actions, particularly around global humanitarian and environmental challenges affecting Bangladesh.
Bangladesh serves as a compelling case study for translation due to its significant role in several pressing global issues. The country’s experiences with climate change and the Rohingya refugee crisis highlight critical areas of concern that resonate with various international audiences. These include policymakers, humanitarian organizations, climate activists, and researchers engaged in global environmental and human rights discussions.
And, geographically, Bangladesh as a South Asian country with links with regional and global actors is often the subject of diplomatic and development debate. The emerging climatic issues such as rising sea levels affecting it and natural disasters are examples of issues that affect climate vulnerable countries, the presence of one of the largest refugee hosting countries in the world is an important aspect to deliberate on when considering issues of migration (Alam, 2021). This study will therefore seek to understand how media translates news articles in these issues in order to establish how the media helps to overcome the barriers of language and culture with a view to promoting informed action globally.
Rationale for Choosing French to English translation and its analysis
Geographically, my professional and education orientation is centered in Europe. Although I am originally from Bangladesh, my language combination for my Master’s in translation course at the University of Bristol is French-English. This is particular reason for me to make efforts to translate French articles on Bangladesh into English, and try to be as close as possible to English readers. In addition, I have the ambition to improve my English translation skills.
Policymakers and international diplomats are particularly concerned with Bangladesh’s position in global climate negotiations and the international response to the Rohingya refugee crisis. Translations of French news articles offer these audiences insights into European and Francophone perspectives on international climate policies, such as the Paris Agreement, and diplomatic efforts to address refugee displacement in South Asia. It also presents a comparative perspective of problem framing and policy engagement among French speaking countries as well as how they are envisaged and addressed in the global environment.
Humanitarian organizations and NGOs benefit from understanding the socio-political dynamics surrounding refugee management and the humanitarian aid provided to Bangladesh. It becomes easier to design the interventions within an organization based on the cultures and needs of that region as well as the international best practices. French-language articles often emphasize the involvement of international bodies like the UN and European Union, which play critical roles in humanitarian aid efforts. These translations provide a lens into how global humanitarian assistance is reported and analyzed outside Anglophone media.
Additionally, climate activists and environmental scholars interested in climate adaptation strategies and environmental justice can gain unique insights from French media's coverage of Bangladesh’s vulnerability to climate change. French outlets often frame Bangladesh’s environmental crises within broader discussions of global climate justice, offering valuable perspectives for those studying the impact of climate change on vulnerable nations. This framing brings conjunction of local struggles with global climate activism into evidence as the problem requires collective international approaches.
Lastly, academics and researchers working in the fields of international relations, human rights, and environmental studies may find these translations particularly useful. French news sources frequently emphasize legal frameworks and international treaties, offering a more policy-oriented or humanitarian legal perspective that complements existing English-language academic discourse. These translations afford an effective coverage of the international norms and diversify the perspectives on the global governance and the legal responses in the academia.
By translating these French articles, this dissertation provides critical access to alternative viewpoints that are otherwise underrepresented in English-language coverage. This not only enriches the global discourse on Bangladesh but also allows a diverse range of international audiences to engage more deeply with the country’s socio-political and environmental challenges.
The primary objective of this dissertation is to translate and analyze a selection of French news articles covering Bangladesh’s climate challenges and the Rohingya refugee crisis. The focus will be on producing translations that maintain the original articles’ tone, meaning, and cultural context while making the content accessible to an English-speaking audience. This is particularly important given the specific geopolitical and humanitarian perspectives that French media bring to these issues, which are often absent in existing English-language coverage. The analysis will also uncover the consequences of those translations in constructing international perceptions and policy discourse on climate change and refugee management. This way, it wants to demonstrate how media translations seek to contribute to generating greater cross-cultural insights into global crises in particular.
Additionally, this dissertation will offer a detailed analysis of the translation process itself. The analysis will focus on how accurately the translations preserve the complexities of the original texts, including cultural references, socio-political nuances, and the intended rhetorical impact. This process will involve a comparative study of key French and English terms related to climate change, refugee crises, and international diplomacy, examining how well these concepts transfer across languages and cultural contexts.
By addressing these objectives, the dissertation will contribute to the field of translation studies by highlighting the challenges and opportunities inherent in translating complex socio-political texts. It will also enhance the understanding of Bangladesh’s position within global climate and humanitarian discourse, particularly for English-speaking audiences who may lack access to the perspectives found in French-language journalism.
Some of the following translation techniques will be employed in this dissertation to improve translation quality and add cultural relevance. Therefore, knowledge of these techniques and their uses is necessary to assess the success of the translation process.
1. Equivalence Theory
The Equivalence Theory, as proposed by Eugene Nida in 1964, is a cornerstone of translation studies (Pym, 2023). It is focused on achieving an equal response be ween the source and the target texts, with a unique emphasis on preserving the message of the original text rather than a literal translation of the words. This is particularly important when dealing with socio-political material, as it ensures that the original message from the French articles is maintained and can be appreciated by an English-speaking audience (Pym, 2023). It also helps avoid cases where the involved message is interpreted in a different way that the sender intended, and thus, the target audience will have better understanding.
In this dissertation, the theory of equivalence has been used to interpret socio-political terms including climate justice and refugee rights. As it will be seen, these terms are literally encoded in socio-political discourse and are signifiers that have legal, ethical and even, cultural meanings that go beyond mere language use (Verma, and Pearl, 2022). In all probability, there would be similar concepts with direct translations in the target language; however, only by applying the rules of the equivalence theory, this translation also unveils the corresponding socio-political context to make these hep useful and properly anchored for an English-speaking audience. It creates an assurance that the cultural and or political importance that is associated with these terms is not lost when passing the message.
“Climate justice” is a socio-political concept that identifies the important aspects of ethically affirmative response to climate change considerations.
‘Refugee rights’ refers to noble political, legal, social and humanitarian entitlement of refugees that form the core and topical discussion of the principle of refugee protection in the current global setting.
In English, however, these camps are frequently discussed with a focus on local conditions and immediate human suffering. The translation process, therefore, must account for these differences, ensuring that the target audience fully grasps the socio-political context and significance attached to the term in French discourse.
These gaps are closed by the theory of equivalence that enables one to translate not only in terms of meaning equivalencies of terms but with other focus and angles which are normally missed in the source language. It is especially important in the case of such terms that in everyday language seem to have rather obvious equivalents but, in fact, have rather different socio-political and culture connotations in French context. Thus, by orienting to these marginalizing frameworks, the translation enhances target audience’s cognition of the issues under discussion as they are depicted in the French context, and keeps the unequivocal interpretation of the original message intact.
2. Skopos Theory
One important media-specific theory is Skopos theory created by Hans Vermeer in the 1970 and 1980s that states that an aim or the intended use of the translation determines the methodology to be employed in translation process (Ryan, 2020). As per this theory, the translator has to agree with the role of the text in the receptor culture and performTranslation based on this role. For example, while translating articles of news regarding the Rohingya refugees, the translator has to provide the compassionate aspect, but he has to also give the political aspect to the English readers.
While Anglophone and Francophone publics alike are familiar with the Rohingya crisis and identify it as humanitarian problem, the configuration of these problems may not always be the same (An, and Sun, 2022). French media, especially French media, tend to rely on the explanation of diplomacy and law at the international level, as well as on how international organizations, including the United Nations and the European Union, respond to the Like the Rohingya crisis. Juxt Sağerk instead, Anglophone media focus more on humanitarian crises which are practical for instance the camps of refugees and the political situation in the region.
Such is the case that while applying Skopos theory in this context, the translation has to be made according to the criteria that will be expected and known by the Anglophone audience. This may involve realigning the intended culture; refocusing; and, accentuating areas unfamiliar or repositioned in Anglophone media; thereby translating socio-political contexts similar to the original French articles, but adopting formats that would appeal to the target market.
3. Vinay and Darbelnet’s Translation Procedures
Jean-Pain Vinay and Jean Darbelnet (1995) identified several general translational processes that are used to solve different types of translation problems.
For example, while translating articles about specific aspects of Bangladeshi culture or socio-political events, indirect translation strategies are employed to translate proper names that have no direct English equivalents while maintaining clarity and intelligibility as much as possible (Gong, 2020). For example Basheer, a famous malayalam script writer might be translated into Basheer, a popular malayalam script writer to make sure that the person interested in a particular coverage of news will understand it fully behind the frame work of the English language (Al-Hubaishi, 2023).
4. Lawrence Venuti’s Foreignization and Domestication
Lawrence Venuti, in 2012, proposed the ideas of foreignization and domestication as ways of handling differences in translation (Saharjo et al., 2024). Foreignization means that the translator tries to keep as much of the source culture in the translated text as possible, whereas domestication means that the translator tries to translate the text in such a way that it will be as close to the target culture as possible. In this dissertation, there is an attempt to ensure that both foreignization and domestication are achieved. For instance, cultural references to Bangladeshi practices are translated to maintain a culturally foreign flavour, and some elements are domesticated to ensure the target population understands the context (Zhu, 2023). For instance, ‘Pohela Boishakh’ a Bangladeshi festival nicer as ‘Pohela Boishakh, the Bengali New Year festival.’
Translation Process
It is, therefore, imperative to establish the methodology involved in this dissertation and the translation method used in this study that is in line with the research objectives. The techniques applied to this project aim to produce accurate translations that can effectively capture the socio-political realities of Bangladesh for a readership that understands English.
Pre-Translation Preparation
The first is an identification of specific socio-political contexts of the source texts, within which their descriptions are given. For example, the cultural context of French media regarding Rohingya crisis coverage or descriptive portrayal of Bangladesh from climatic perspective needs to be captured in the articles (Tian, 2023). This preparation entails studying what kind of geopolitical viewpoints, regulatory structures, and cultural work references presented in Francophone media such as France in International Climate Negotiations or France’s Humanitarian Crisis Response in South Asia. They read to familiarise themselves with the contexts within which they translate, so that the intended meaning does not to lose meaning and have no impact on the intended audience.
Initial Translation
In this stage, the first draft of the translated text is produced with consideration on the intended meaning and style of the source text. The translator also uses the concept of equivalence theory in order to capture the communicative effect of the source text (Gong, 2020). Particular focus is paid to the translation of socio-political terms and concepts as well as to how they are significant for the target audience.
Revising and Editing
A first translation is checked and refined to improve its quality. This process requires cross-checking for consistency in terms used, compliance with cultural aspects, and other factors such as readability (Benjamin & Rendall, 2021). Revisions may also involve adding comments from other reviewers or experts to enhance the quality of the translated article.
Final Proofreading
Finally, the translation is reviewed to check for any mistakes and ensure that it is of the right quality as required (Benjamin & Rendall, 2021). It involves revising the translated text to ensure that there are no typing mistakes and that the final output is polished to a level that is acceptable for publishing or academic purposes.
The methods employed in this dissertation are consistent with the aims of achieving accurate translations and examining the translation procedure. The above-mentioned stages of the translation process are aimed at achieving the objectives of the research and, at the same time, ensuring that the translated texts portray the socio-political reality of Bangladesh appropriately.
In this way, the dissertation successfully fulfils its aim of offering high quality translations that appropriately convey the socio-political realities of Bangladesh and, therefore, has a significant role to play in the field of translation studies.
|
Inclusion Criteria |
Exclusion Criteria |
|
Articles in French with no pre-existing English translations |
Articles that already have published English translations |
|
Focus on themes like climate vulnerability, forced migration, and socio-political unrest in Bangladesh |
Texts unrelated to the themes of the research |
|
Published by reputable sources (academic journals, recognized media outlets) |
Texts from non-credible or non-reputable sources |
|
Texts of moderate to high linguistic complexity for the application of translation theories |
Texts too simplistic or without enough depth to apply complex translation theories |
|
Articles reflecting varying tones, from formal academic style to journalistic and informal registers |
Articles lacking stylistic or tonal variety |
|
Cultural and contextual relevance to Bangladeshi issues, reflecting challenges in translation |
Texts with minimal cultural or contextual significance for theoretical analysis |
|
Texts that present a challenge in maintaining the original tone, meaning, and context |
Texts that are too short or lack sufficient content for in-depth translation |
The translation process of this dissertation came across several major issues, and the decisions were made to deliver accurate and culturally sensitive translations. The recording of such aspects not only provides an understanding of the method applied but also depicts the different challenges that were faced and the measures subsequently taken to address them.
This was one of the main issues that had to be addressed: cultural and socio-political specificities of the source material in the form of French articles. This challenge has been discussed widely in translation studies, especially the need to manage cultural differences in order to ensure meaningful communication (Pym, 2023). For instance, articles on the Rohingya refugees needed a reader to have knowledge of the past and present political climate to appreciate the severity of the situation. According to (Gong, 2020), cultural adaptation is essential for the preservation of the intended effects of socio-political texts. To tackle this problem, a thorough literature search on the socio-political environment of Bangladesh and the Rohingya issue was carried out.
Another important challenge was the accuracy in comparing the specialized terminology applied in the text. Notably, socio-political terms stand entitled to special attention, and their translation should be closer to the original for readers' comprehensive perception. To this effect, a list with linguistic details of special terms was made according to the translation theories and procedures defined earlier by (Pym, 2023). This glossary included definitions and further context to support the decisions of translation and consistency between the translated texts. (Saharjo et al., 2024) points out an important aspect: consistency in the use of the terms maintains the quality of the translation and makes the text comprehensible to the reader.
8 Years | PhD
The translation of the articles demanded the selective use of those techniques in view of the literature review because of the particularities of each article. The theory of equivalence in which the meaning is maintained was, for example, applicable to the socio-political materials in translation (Gong, 2020). Skopos's theory focuses on the function of translation guided by the need to reframe cultural references to adapt them to the target culture. The description of these techniques was also supported by a written account of how each one of these is applied, coupled with literature that asserts efficiency in the named techniques as far as translating interculturally and contextually sensitive texts is concerned.
Peer review was an important step that ensured translation accuracy. Other people's and professionals' responses helped determine the translations' correctness and efficiency levels, as (Toury, 2021) indicated. This includes a discussion of how well the translation expresses the meaning and translation of the cultural references. Research supported the fact that peer review plays a very important role in enhancing the translation quality and surmounting any problem, they could expect. Some of the records captured in the documentation included notes on the feedback given and the changes made to the translation.
Some of the challenges arose with the translation, especially translating idioms and phrases that were bound by culture. Overcoming these difficulties required the translations to reflect both the meaning and the culture of the source text, and this was not easy, as pointed out by (Tian, 2023) as well. For instance, some of the phrases and idioms used in the original French texts have been translated to ensure that they make sense and are meaningful to the target audience who speaks and reads English.
Bangladesh, un pays fait de catastrophes
Article tiré de la revue française de référence 'Hommes et Migrations', rédigé par Alice Poncelet, paru dans l'édition de 2010
La vulnérabilité environnementale et la migration forcée
L’Asie du Sud est considérée, par la majeure partie de la communauté scientifique, comme l’une des régions du monde les plus affectées par les changements climatiques. Selon le quatrième rapport d’évaluation de l’IPCC en 2007, les principaux impacts des changements climatiques dans la région sont : une augmentation des fréquences de sécheresses et d’inondations affectant la production locale ; l’élévation du niveau de la mer exposant les côtes à des risques de disparition et de destruction de plus en plus accrus ; l’érosion des terres tant en zone côtière que fluviale ; l’accélération de la fonte des glaciers de l’Himalaya, donc des crues et des coulées de boue détruisant ces zones. Certains pronostics indiquent que les rendements agricoles pourraient diminuer jusqu’à 30 % en Europe centrale et en Asie du Sud pour le milieu du XXIe siècle.
La superficie totale du Bangladesh – seulement 144 000 km² pour une population d’environ 150 millions d’habitants – en fait l’un des pays les plus densément peuplés du monde (1 050 habitants au km²). Le Bangladesh étant un delta, la plupart de ses régions se situent à moins de douze mètres au-dessus du niveau de la mer. Il est prévu qu’environ 50 % des terres soient inondées si le niveau de la mer augmente ne fût-ce que d’un mètre.
Ainsi, les désastres environnementaux sont des phénomènes récurrents dans ce pays. L’inondation des terres agricoles en période de mousson conduit à des pertes de récoltes, de propriétés et de vies humaines assez conséquentes. L’érosion des berges causée par le déplacement continu des sillons dans les principaux fleuves – le Jamuna (Brahmapoutre en Inde), le Padma (le Gange) et le Meghna – est un problème endémique qui déplace entre 500 000 personnes chaque année, selon le Bureau de gestion des catastrophes (Disaster Management Bureau, DMB) et 1 million, selon Islam. Ce déplacement de population régulier crée beaucoup de détresse dans le pays.
Le concept de “déplacé climatique” étant encore à ses débuts sur la scène scientifique internationale, cette étude s’attelle à démontrer l’hypothèse selon laquelle les dernières vagues d’“exode rural” sont directement ou indirectement liées à la question des changements climatiques.
Migrer sous la menace des éléments
Après une catastrophe, les ménages bangladeshis déploient différentes stratégies pour développer leurs moyens de subsistance. Dans certains cas, le père émigre temporairement vers les centres urbains, tels que la capitale, Dhaka, mais aussi vers des grandes villes plus proches du lieu d’origine, comme Khulna ou Barisal, dans le but de travailler et d’envoyer de l’argent à la famille. D’autres migrent de manière saisonnière en suivant le marché du travail. Certains ont pris la décision de migrer avec la totalité de la famille pendant que d’autres ont choisi de ne pas émigrer, car le processus est complexe et demande un minimum de ressources. Cet investissement financier n’est pas envisageable pour les familles les plus pauvres.
La migration, qu’elle soit vers Dhaka ou vers l’Inde, est un choix forcé pour tous les migrants interrogés. Aucun d’entre eux ne désirait a priori migrer. La vie à Dhaka est très difficile et moins satisfaisante que prévu. Les nouveaux migrants luttent pour trouver un emploi et deviennent des travailleurs journaliers, changeant de “métiers” tous les jours en fonction de l’offre (casseur de briques, chauffeur de rickshaw, ouvrier dans l’industrie du textile).
Les liens entre la dégradation de l’environnement et la migration
Bien que la dégradation de l’environnement en tant que telle ne soit pas encore reconnue comme un des principaux moteurs de la migration au Bangladesh, on lui reconnaît des interdépendances avec d’autres facteurs de migration. Les catastrophes environnementales ont des conséquences sur la situation de l’emploi, tant dans les lieux d’origine que dans les zones urbaines où s’installent les migrants.
Dans le Nord, pendant la saison des pluies, des hectares de terres et de cultures sont détruits et inondés. Ces mêmes terres sont menacées de désertification durant la saison sèche. Tant pour des raisons géologiques que pour des raisons de propriété des sols, il est très difficile de vivre de l’agriculture, c’est pourquoi de nombreux hommes redirigent leur activité économique vers le monde de la pêche. Ils doivent dès lors faire face à des problèmes de surpêche ce qui les oblige soit à trouver une nouvelle activité, soit à migrer vers les grandes villes.
Les activités économiques ont donc fortement évolué ces dernières années dans les régions sinistrées à cause des changements environnementaux et des migrations. Il n’est donc pas étonnant que dans des mégapoles comme Dhaka, les métiers et l’organisation économique évoluent aussi. C’est ainsi que “les métiers des migrants” ont vu le jour. De chauffeur de rickshaw, à casseur de briques ou porteur de sacs de ciment, chaque matin, c’est une nouvelle recherche d’emploi commence pour ces “travailleurs d’un jour” qui vivent de leur activité économique dans la précarité et l’instabilité des bidonvilles.
Translation
Bangladesh, a country made of disasters
Article taken from the French reference magazine 'Hommes et Migrations', written by Alice Poncelet, published in the 2010 edition
Environmental vulnerability and forced migration
South Asia is considered, by most of the scientific community, to be one of the regions of the world most affected by climate change. According to the IPCC's fourth assessment report in 2007, the main impacts of climate change in the region are: an increase in the frequency of droughts and floods affecting local production; rising sea levels exposing coasts to increasing risks of disappearance and destruction; land erosion in both coastal and river areas; the acceleration of the melting of Himalayan glaciers, therefore floods and mudslides destroying these areas. Some forecasts indicate that agricultural yields could decline by up to 30% in Central Europe and South Asia by the mid-21st century.
Bangladesh's total area – only 144,000 km² for a population of around 150 million – makes it one of the most densely populated countries in the world (1,050 inhabitants per km²). As Bangladesh is a delta, most of its regions are less than twelve meters above sea level. It is expected that around 50% of the land will be flooded if sea levels rise by even one meter.
Thus, environmental disasters are recurring phenomena in this country. The flooding of agricultural land during monsoon periods leads to quite significant losses of crops, property and human lives. Bank erosion caused by the continued movement of furrows in major rivers – Jamuna (Brahmaputra in India), Padma (Ganges) and Meghna – is an endemic problem that displaces between 500,000 people each year, according to the Disaster Management Bureau (DMB) and 1 million, according to Islam. This regular population displacement creates a lot of distress in the country.
With the concept of “displaced climate” still in its infancy on the international scientific scene, this study seeks to demonstrate the hypothesis that the latest waves of rural exodus” are directly or indirectly linked to the issue of climate change.
Migrate under threat from the elements
After a disaster, Bangladeshi households deploy different strategies to develop their livelihoods. In some cases, the father temporarily emigrates to urban centres, such as the capital, Dhaka, but also to large cities closer to the place of origin, such as Khulna or Barisal, with the aim of working and sending money 'money to the family. Others migrate seasonally following the labour market. Some made the decision to migrate with the entire family while others chose not to emigrate because the process is complex and requires minimal resources. This financial investment is not possible for the poorest families.
Migration, whether to Dhaka or India, is a forced choice for all migrants interviewed. None of them wanted to migrate a priori. Life in Dhaka is very difficult and less satisfying than expected. New migrants struggle to find jobs and become daily workers, changing “trades” every day depending on supply (brick breaker, rickshaw driver, textile industry worker).
The links between environmental degradation and migration
Although environmental degradation as such is not yet recognized as a major driver of migration in Bangladesh, it is recognized as interdependent with other migration factors. Environmental disasters have consequences on the employment situation, both in places of origin and in urban areas where migrants settle.
In the North, during the rainy season, hectares of land and crops are destroyed and flooded. These same lands are threatened with desertification during the dry season. Both for geological reasons and for reasons of land ownership, it is very difficult to make a living from agriculture, which is why many people redirect their economic activity towards the world of fishing. They therefore have to face overfishing problems, which forces them either to find a new activity or to migrate to big cities.
Economic activities have therefore evolved significantly in recent years in disaster regions due to environmental changes and migration. It is therefore not surprising that in megacities like Dhaka, professions and economic organization are also evolving. This is how “migrant jobs” came into being. From rickshaw driver, brick breaker or cement bag carrier, every morning, a new job search begins for these “workers for a day” who live from their economic activity in precariousness and instability slums.
Analysis
Analysis of the article
The article under consideration offers the analysis of Bangladesh’s environmental risks and effects of forced migration in this context. The show blends science such as the IPCC reports with social consequences demonstrating how calamities in the environment bring about complicated migration (Post, and Junczys-Dowmunt, 2023). The work itself devotes much attention in showing how these aspects are linked politically, economically and socially especially when explaining that natural disasters result to a shift from agriculture to fishing and then acquiring urban jobs.
Meaning
The text stresses the principle of ‘choice,’ arguing that environmental migrants are not particularly animating migration voluntariarily (Gronier, et al. 2024). This nuanced perspective challenges simplistic narratives about migration, showing how environmental degradation creates a cascade of effects: from loss of their farmland to transformation of job nature, and finally to insecure urban employment. The role of ‘workers for a day’ highlighted in the article matches the current uncertainty of lives of environmental migrants in Dhaka.
Comparison between French and English Translation
It is equally noteworthy that the identity of the language requires correspondingly careful and academic translation which has been honoured in this translation. However, there are some subtle differences:
The literal translation of the French phrase that means a country made of disasters is quite different from the English version, and the emotions associated with it.
The French term is in fact exode rural, which directly translated in English as rural exodus, and thus; the dramatic tone of the French term is preserved fully.
The translation of “travailleurs d’un jour” as “workers for a day” keeps a direct meaning but only to some extent conveys the poetic images of the original stress on their everyday unpredictability.
Technical and scientific terms are translated as close to the source as possible so that the article remains as academic as it should be but as understandable as it needs to be for a lay reader.
Le Bangladesh est l’un des pays les plus pauvres de la Terre. Pourquoi ?
Article tiré du journal 'Contrepoints' de son édition du 12 juillet 2011, dans la rubrique de l'Economie international' Diagnostic pauvreté : 1- Le Bangladesh
Le Bangladesh se classe 155e sur 180 pays avec un PIB per capita de 1334 dollars. Le taux d’illettrisme est de 46,5 % et 81,3 % de la population vit avec moins de deux dollars par jour. C’est l’un des pays les plus pauvres de la Terre.
Pourtant, ce pays a un taux d’imposition des particuliers relativement faible et la taille de l’État en pourcentage du PIB est en bas de la moyenne. Serait-ce une preuve de l’échec des idées libertariennes visant à réduire la taille de l’État ? Vraiment pas !
Démocratie
Depuis son indépendance en 1971, essentiellement deux partis politiques ont œuvré au Bangladesh : la Ligue Awami et le Parti Nationaliste du Bangladesh (P.N.B.).
Le Parti Nationaliste du Bangladesh qui a mené le pays de 1991 à 1996 a été un peu plus orienté vers le libre marché, la privatisation des entreprises d’État et le commerce international. Il a aussi démilitarisé la société et encouragé le sécularisme. Suite à son élection de 1991, le programme a été considéré comme un succès et le Bangladesh a connu une bonne croissance durant les années 1990.
En 1996, après avoir contesté la victoire du Parti Nationaliste du Bangladesh, la Ligue Awami a réussi à prendre le pouvoir dans une seconde élection grâce au support d’un parti marginal. Cette fois, le parti a adopté une attitude plus modérée, encourageant la libéralisation de l’économie, l’entrepreneuriat et abandonnant les idées socialistes, tout en supportant le sécularisme.
Cependant, peu importe le parti au pouvoir, la démocratie a été très déficiente au Bangladesh.
La corruption a toujours gravement infesté l’État et les élections ont toujours été minées par des irrégularités et suivies de violentes manifestations. La démocratie est dans ce pays une compétition empoisonnée entre deux dynasties oligarchiques corporatistes voulant prendre le contrôle de l’entité corrompue qu’est l’État au Bangladesh dans le but de l’utiliser pour s’enrichir.
C’est avec raison que les Bangladeshis ont toujours éprouvé un profond dédain pour leur gouvernement.
Agriculture
Le Bangladesh offre de bonnes possibilités de développement agricole.
Il dispose de sols fertiles du fait des alluvions et d’importantes ressources encore inexploitées d’eaux de surface et d’eaux souterraines pour l’irrigation. L’agriculture représente 30 % du PIB et 60 % de l’emploi du pays. Cependant, la production n’est pas à la hauteur de ce qu’elle devrait être. Les paysans vivent dans des conditions précaires et la famine sévit dans l’ensemble du pays. Le pays doit importer des millions de tonnes de nourriture par année pour tenter de subvenir à ses besoins.
Secteur privé
Au Bangladesh, il faut 44 jours en moyenne pour démarrer une entreprise.
Le taux d’imposition des entreprises est de 45 %. La règlementation au niveau du marché du travail est peu flexible, il est extrêmement difficile de renvoyer un employé. Avec un secteur financier déficient et des droits de propriété nébuleux, le climat n’est pas favorable à l’entreprenariat et à l’investissement. L’entreprise privée joue donc un rôle effacé dans l’économie, ce qui laisse peu d’opportunités d’emplois aux travailleurs, outre les sweat shops et l’agriculture.
Taux de natalité
Le Bangladesh est le pays le plus densément peuplé du monde : sa population ayant triplé entre 1960 et 2000.
Dans les années 1980-85, la promotion du contrôle des naissances a permis de ralentir le taux de croissance. Le taux de natalité est maintenant de 3,1 enfants par femme alors qu’il était de 6,6 dans les années 1970. Pourquoi tant de naissances ? Il ne faut pas oublier que le Bangladesh est une quasi-théocratie islamique…
Inégalités
Le coefficient Gini du Bangladesh est de 31, bien en bas de la moyenne, ce qui signifie plus d’égalité que beaucoup de pays.
Cependant, cette situation est loin d’être enviable puisque le coefficient est déformé par l’extrême pauvreté de ce pays. Les deux sources d’inégalités les plus dommageables au niveau du pays sont la corruption, la structure de l’industrie agraire et le système d’éducation.
Corruption
La corruption est l’un des plus gros problèmes du Bangladesh qui se classe 147e sur 179 pays selon le Corruption perception Index de ‘Transparency International’.
Les pots de vin sont parfois la seule façon de faire avancer les situations bloquées par le gouvernement. L’État est très gros et est utilisé par les fonctionnaires, politiciens et amis du pouvoir pour extorquer la richesse, ce qui contribue à entretenir les inégalités et la haine envers le gouvernement.
L’État néglige de protéger sa population : répression, brutalité policière et négation de la liberté d’expression sont fréquents.
Éducation
Le nationalisme et le fanatisme islamique ont fait beaucoup de tort à la qualité de l’éducation des Bangladeshis.
C’est en leur nom que la Ligue Awami a imposé le bengali comme langue nationale et comme langue de l’éducation publique. Cela a engendré un grand nombre de mal instruits puisque les connaissances nécessaires à leur éducation n’étaient pas disponibles en bengali. Les écoles privées anglophones ont quant à elles attiré les enfants de riches, ce qui leur a donné accès à de bien meilleurs emplois. Cette situation a contribué à l’accroissement des inégalités au pays.
Conclusion
Le Bangladesh est un cas typique de pays pauvre, victime d’un gouvernement corrompu qui a siphonné la richesse et détruit le capital productif de l’économie.
Bangladesh is one of the poorest countries on Earth. Why?
Article taken from the newspaper 'Contrepoints' of its July 12, 2011 edition, in the International Economy section
Bangladesh ranks 155th out of 180 countries with a GDP per capita of $1,334. The illiteracy rate is 46.5% and 81.3% of the population lives on less than two dollars a day. It is one of the poorest countries on Earth.
Yet this country has a relatively low personal tax rate and the state size as a percentage of GDP is below average. Could this be proof of the failure of libertarian ideas aimed at reducing the size of the state? Really not!
Democracy
Since its independence in 1971, essentially two political parties have operated in Bangladesh: the Awami League and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party which led the country from 1991 to 1996 was somewhat more oriented towards the free market, the privatization of state-owned enterprises and international trade. He also demilitarized society and encouraged secularism. Following its 1991 election, the program was considered a success and Bangladesh experienced good growth during the 1990s.
In 1996, after contesting the victory of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, the Awami League managed to take power in a second election thanks to the support of a fringe party. This time, the party adopted a more moderate attitude, encouraging economic liberalization, entrepreneurship and abandoning socialist ideas, while supporting secularism.
However, regardless of which party is in power, democracy has been very deficient in Bangladesh.
Corruption has always seriously infested the state and elections have always been undermined by irregularities and followed by violent protests. Democracy in this country is a poisonous competition between two oligarchic corporatist dynasties wanting to take control of the corrupt entity that is the state in Bangladesh with the aim of using it to enrich themselves.
It is with good reason that Bangladeshis have always felt deep disdain for their government.
Agriculture
Bangladesh offers good opportunities for agricultural development.
It has fertile soils due to alluvium and significant untapped resources of surface water and groundwater for irrigation. Agriculture represents 30% of the country's GDP and 60% of employment. However, production is not up to what it should be. Farmers live in precarious conditions and famine is raging throughout the country. The country must import millions of tonnes of food per year to try to meet its needs.
Birth rate
Bangladesh is the most densely populated country in the world: its population tripled between 1960 and 2000.
In the years 1980-85, the promotion of birth control helped slow the growth rate. The birth rate is now 3.1 children per woman compared to 6.6 in the 1970s. Why so many births? We must not forget that Bangladesh is an Islamic quasi-theocracy...
Inequalities
Bangladesh's Gini coefficient is 31, well below average, which means more equality than many countries.
However, this situation is far from enviable since the coefficient is distorted by the extreme poverty of this country. The two most damaging sources of inequality at the country level are corruption, the structure of the agrarian industry and the education system.
Corruption
Corruption is one of Bangladesh's biggest problems, ranking 147th out of 179 countries according to Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index.
Bribes are sometimes the only way to move forward in situations blocked by the government. The public budget is very important and is used by civil servants, politicians and friends of power to extort wealth, which contributes to maintaining inequality and hatred towards the government.
The state neglects to protect its population: repression, police brutality and denial of freedom of expression are common.
Education
Nationalism and Islamic fanaticism have done great harm to the quality of education in Bangladeshis. It was on their behalf that the Awami League imposed Bengali as a national language and as a language of public education. This led to a large number of poorly educated people since the necessary knowledge for their education was not available in Bengali. English-speaking private schools, for their part, attracted the children of the rich, which gave them access to much better jobs. This situation has contributed to the increase in inequalities in the country.
Conclusion
Bangladesh is a typical case of a poor country, victim of a corrupt government that has siphoned wealth and destroyed the productive capital of the economy.
Analysis
Analysis of the article
The poverty in Bangladesh particularly covered by the article exposes a more comprehensive view analyzing many complex factors as causing the economic crisis of the country. It presents a comprehensive analysis through different lenses: political: the democracy index and corruption perception index and political: democracy and corruption perception index economic: farming and private sector correlations social: education level and birth rates demographic: population size and growth rate (Rafi, and Morgan, 2023). Mr. Kruger is particularly insightful in demonstrating that institutions, which in this case respect relatively sound macro and micro managing policies on paper, perpetrate poverty. The author has a remarkably liberal slant by focusing on how bad governance and bureaucratic interferences have polarized entrepreneurship.
Meaning
Bangladesh impoverished not as result of lack of government interference and resources but as a result of bureaucracy fraudulence and institutional inefficiency. The article makes it apparent that bureaucratic entanglements, corruption and political instability are the key factors which substantially hinder practically any possibility of development within the country, especially in agriculture and small business (Guénette, 2022). It uses Bangladesh as an example of how ineffective policies will counteract natural resources and nascent economic gains to perpetuate poverty in the country.
Comparison between French and English Translation
The translation maintains good accuracy but shows some notable differences:
The French term quasi-théocratie islamique which is closer in translation to its English equivalent, has more political connotations.
The visual text retains the English translation of the French phrase “sweat shops” proving that their meaning is well known.
The expression “mal instruits” is translated as “poorly educated,” but directly translates as poorly informed.
Similarly, in the corruption section “l’État est très gros” would be transslated as “public budget is very much important” slightly distorting the meaning regarding state size.
One thing that remsains clear upon comparing the French conclussion with the English one is that it employs sigsnificantly stronger vocabulary – “siphonné” (siphoned) and “détruit” (destroyed); however, the English transslation does not omit these terms, thereby retsaining the arsticle’s contenstious nature.
Révolte des ouvriers du secteur textile à Dacca
Report published in France24, en date du 25/04/2013 : Reporters ; Charlotte BOITIAUX et Priscille LAFITTE
Des milliers de manifestants du secteur textile sont descendus dans les rues de Dacca, ce vendredi, suite à l'effondrement d'un immeuble, mercredi, ayant provoqué la mort de près de 300 personnes, selon un bilan provisoire.
Publicité
La situation a brutalement dégénéré dans les rues de Dacca, ce vendredi. Des dizaines de milliers de manifestants du secteur textile se sont violemment opposés aux forces de l'ordre alors qu'ils défilaient en réaction à l'effondrement d'un immeuble de huit étages, ayant provoqué la mort de près de 300 personnes, mercredi. "La situation est explosive", a confié à l'AFP, Asaduzzaman, un officier de police, "Nous avons dû tirer des balles en caoutchouc et des gaz lacrymogènes pour les disperser". Ils réclamaient avant tout "l'arrestation et l'exécution des propriétaires de l'immeuble [en fuite]", a précisé l’agent des forces de l’ordre. Entre 300 et 400 personnes seraient encore coincées sous les décombres.
Get assistance from our PROFESSIONAL ASSIGNMENT WRITERS to receive 100% assured AI-free and high-quality documents on time, ensuring an A+ grade in all subjects.
Les propriétaires ont ignoré un appel à la fermeture
Aujourd’hui, la colère de ces ouvriers est d’autant plus compréhensible que la catastrophe aurait pu être évitée. Dès mardi, les fissures étaient devenues menaçantes, l’immeuble avait dû être évacué. Mais les chefs des ateliers avaient exigé que les ouvriers reviennent travailler le lendemain. Selon le responsable d’une unité de police chargé du secteur industriel, Mustafizur Rahman, les propriétaires des ateliers avaient délibérément ignoré un appel à la fermeture lancé par les autorités. "Après avoir constaté les fissures, mardi, nous leur avons dit de fermer les ateliers. Ils n'en ont pas tenu compte", a-t-il déclaré à la presse. Ces propriétaires sont invisibles depuis l’accident mais une enquête a été ouverte à leur encontre pour violation des règles de construction.
Des conditions de travail précaires
"Cela fait plusieurs années que le Bangladesh est identifié comme un pays où il peut y avoir des problèmes de sécurité dans des usines. Les autorités poussent à leur amélioration, mais on part de loin", affirme Anne-Laure Linget Riau, responsable du développement international à la Fédération française de la maille et de la lingerie, interrogée par FRANCE 24.
Les ouvriers souffrent également de conditions de travail très précaires. Ces derniers continuent d’être rémunérés une bouchée de pain. Certains salariés du textile qui travaillaient dans le Rana Plaza étaient payés 37 dollars (28 euros) par mois. Des conditions de travail qui sont toutefois en cours d’amélioration : de 40 dollars en 2011, le salaire moyen est passé à 80 dollars en 2012 et frôle aujourd’hui les 100 dollars, précise l’experte.
"Nous craignons que les acheteurs annulent leurs commandes"
Le Bangladesh a fortement augmenté ses capacités de fabrication textile depuis trente ans. Il est même passé devant la Chine pour fournir la France en certains biens, notamment les t-shirts (fin 2012, 21,4 % des t-shirts vendus en France étaient importés du Bangladesh contre 18,2 % de la Chine). Il est devenu le 2e plus gros fournisseur de la France, devant la Turquie, le Maroc et la Tunisie. En cinq ans, les capacités de production du pays ont augmenté de moitié et ont monté en gamme, en se positionnant sur des produits plus élaborés comme les Jeans.
Translation
Revolt of textile workers in Dhaka
This report was made by Charlotte BOITIAUX and Priscille LAFITTE, and published in France24 on 25/04/2013
Thousands of demonstrators from the textile sector took to the streets of Dhaka this Friday following the collapse of a building on Wednesday, causing the death of nearly 300 people, according to a provisional assessment.
The situation suddenly degenerated in the streets of Dhaka this Friday. Tens of thousands of demonstrators in the textile sector violently opposed the police as they marched in reaction to the collapse of an eight-story building, causing the death of nearly 300 people on Wednesday. "The situation is explosive", Asaduzzaman, a police officer, told AFP. "We had to fire rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse them". Above all, they demanded "the arrest and execution of the owners of the building [on the run]", said the law enforcement officer. Between 300 and 400 people are still believed to be trapped under the rubble.
Homeowners ignored a call for closure
Today, the anger of these workers is all the more understandable since the catastrophe could have been avoided. As of Tuesday, the cracks had become threatening, the building had to be evacuated. However, the workshop leaders had demanded that the workers return to work the next day. According to the head of a police unit responsible for the industrial sector, Mustafizur Rahman, the owners of the workshops had deliberately ignored a call for closure launched by the authorities. "After noticing the cracks on Tuesday, we told them to close the workshops. They didn't take it into account", he told reporters. These owners have been invisible since the accident but an investigation has been opened against them for violation of construction rules.
Precarious working conditions
"Bangladesh has been identified as a country where there may be safety concerns in factories for several years. The authorities are pushing for their improvement, but we have come a long way", says Anne-Laure Linget Riau, head of international development at the French Knitwear and Lingerie Federation, interviewed by FRANCE 24.
Workers also suffer from very precarious working conditions. The latter continue to be paid a pittance. Some textile workers who worked in Rana Plaza were paid $37 (28 euros) per month. Working conditions which are however being improved: from 40 dollars in 2011, the average salary increased to 80 dollars in 2012 and is now close to 100 dollars, specifies the expert.
"We are concerned that buyers will cancel their orders"
Bangladesh has significantly increased its textile manufacturing capacities over the past thirty years. It even overtook China to supply France with certain goods, notably t-shirts (at the end of 2012, 21.4% of t-shirts sold in France were imported from Bangladesh compared to 18.2% from China). It has become France's second largest supplier, ahead of Turkey, Morocco and Tunisia. In five years, the country's production capabilities have increased by half and moved upmarket, positioning themselves on more sophisticated products such as Jeans.
Analysis
Analysis of the article
The artiicle is providing ainalysis for a rieview of one partiicular type of crisis whiich took place in the textile induiistry of Bangladesh in 2013, namely, the Rana Plaza tragedy. It actually brings out the conflict between the country’s upraised industrialization process and the poor safety measures. It exists in parallel with breaking news of a particular event and provides background information on how it relates to the entire textiles industry in Bangladesh (Kowsher, et al. 2022). By providing threats, protesters, and deaths it contrastively shifts to the industry impact thus offering a complete account of the situation both in its human dimension and in the spheres of business.
Meaning
Later on, the specific patterns of Bangladesh’s prospective structural changes and challenges can be seen at least three different levels in the process of industrialization according to the text. In its essence, it illustrates a story of how industrialization when followed with growth at the cost of safety measures turn fatal (Mellinger, and Hanson, 2024). The article shows the interdependence of relations between workers’ rights, economic development, and trade liberalisation. It has highlighted a classic development conundrum: Bangladesh has managed to transform itself from a humble textile importer into one of the world’s largest textile exporters but it has not been able to protect its workers. The description of hourly wages ($ 37-$ 100 monthly) sharpens the awareness of working conditions despite the steady development of the industry (Willis, et al. 2022).
Comparison between French to English Translation
The translation maintains good accuracy but shows some notable differences:
The reader will recognize that ‘une bouchée de pain’ is the French conception of ‘a pittance’, but here, again, the French idiom becomes a mere English equivalent.
Many nuances of actual expression in two languages are seen at this example: French “la situation a brutalement dégénéré” looks more dramatic than English “the situation suddenly degenerated”.
The term here is translated into “monté en gamme” which can be translated as “moved upmarket” which is quite close to the actual meaning but has more technical sense then the French original
In particular the French word “capacités de fabrication” is even more specific than the English “manufacturing capacities”.
The pressure in the French reporting style – particularly in the quotations – is slightly less in the English version; however, all the vital data are preserved.
Menace Terroriste
Report published in French journal « Charente Libre », en date du 02/07/2016
Carnage au Bangladesh: "j'ai senti les balles passer si près de moi"
Les clients du Holey Artisan Bakery de Dacca profitaient de leur dîner quand des hommes armés ont déboulé dans le restaurant, séparant les Bangladais des étrangers avant de déchaîner leur furie meurtrière contre ces derniers. Quand les commandos bangladais ont pris d'assaut le café-restaurant de ce quartier huppé de la capitale 11 heures plus tard, son sol blanc n'était plus qu'une mare de sang parsemée de corps d'étrangers massacrés à l'arme blanche.
Ce café très fréquenté par les expatriés est populaire depuis longtemps auprès des diplomates et de l'élite aisée du Bangladesh. Vendredi soir, Hasnat Karim avait emmené toute sa famille pour l'anniversaire de sa fille. Hasnat est trop traumatisé pour dire plus que quelques mots de ce cauchemar, déclarant seulement que les preneurs d'otages " ne se sont pas mal comportés avec nous". Mais il a raconté à son père Rezaul comment les assaillants, munis de fusils automatiques, de grenades et de machettes artisanales, ont séparé les clients en deux groupes. "Ils (les étrangers) ont été emmenés à l'étage tandis que les Bangladais restaient autour d'une table" , a dit Rezaul Karim. Dans le chaos et la confusion initiale, de nombreux clients sont parvenus à s'échapper. Un homme ayant réussi à prendre la fuite a raconté à la chaine indienne ABP que les hommes armés scandaient des slogans quand ils ont forcé l'entrée surveillée par un unique gardien. "J 'ai couru avertir les autres, certains sont parvenus à s'échapper par l'arrière mais les autres se sont retrouvés pris au piège ", a-t-il dit sous couvert d'anonymat. "Ils ont mis les gens en ligne. Il devait y avoir 20 à 25 membres du personnel et 20 à 25 clients, ils ont ensuite éteint les lumières et la vidéosurveillance". "Choqués par le carnage" Le Bangladesh, dont 90% de la population est musulmane, venait d'entamer une semaine de congés pour profiter des fêtes de l'Aid qui marquent la fin du ramadan. Dès que la prise d'otages a été connue, la police s'est ruée sur les lieux, engageant une fusillade avec les preneurs d'otages mais elle s'est rapidement retrouvée face à une forte résistance. "Ils avaient des armes automatiques et des bombes ", a expliqué Diego Rossini, un cuisinier argentin qui est parvenu à s'échapper. "Les otages (qui s'étaient échappés) se sont placés sous la protection de la police", a dit Rossini à la chaine argentine C5N. " J'ai senti les balles passer si près de moi, jamais je n'avais eu aussi peur de ma vie".
Les forces de sécurité du Bangladesh ont pris le contrôle ce samedi matin d'un restaurant de Dacca où des dizaines de personnes avaient été prises en otages vendredi soir, tuant six des assaillants. Au moins 13 otages dont trois étrangers ont été secourus par les commandos qui ont lancé l'assaut dans ce restaurant du quartier de Gulshan fréquenté par des diplomates et des expatriés.
Les 20 otages tués par des hommes armés sont essentiellement des Italiens et des Japonais, a annoncé un haut responsable de l'armée. Il s'agit surtout d'Italiens ou de Japonais. Deux policiers sont morts en affrontant les hommes armés qui avaient attaqué le restaurant.
Le restaurant a été sécurisé mais certains des assaillants pourraient être en fuite, a indiqué de son côté Tuhin Mohammad Masud, un haut responsable des forces antiterroristes du Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) à une chaîne de télévision indienne. "Nous avons tué six des terroristes. Le lieu principal qu'ils occupaient a été sécurisé", a dit le responsable du RAB, dont les forces ont lancé l'assaut, à la chaine Times Now. "Certains pourraient cependant être en fuite". Un photographe sur place a entendu d'importants échanges de tirs quand les forces de sécurité ont pris d'assaut le restaurant, plus de dix heures après le début de la prise d'otages. Pas de volonté de négocier "Il n'y a pas de volonté de négocier " chez les assaillants, avait déclaré alors l'ambassadeur italien à Dacca, Mario Palma. " C'est une mission suicide". Dans la soirée de vendredi, une dizaine d'individus armés avaient attaqué le restaurant Holey Artisan Bakery de la capitale du Bangladesh, selon la police et des témoins. Les assaillants ont fait irruption dans l'établissement vers 21h20 (15h20 GMT) en criant "Allah Akbar" (Dieu est le plus grand), ouvrant le feu et faisant usage d'explosifs. L'EI a rapidement revendiqué la fusillade et une prise d '"otages ", a annoncé l'agence de presse Amaq, liée à l'organisation jihadiste. " Des commandos de l'Etat islamique attaquent un restaurant fréquenté par des étrangers dans la ville de Dacca, au Bangladesh" , a affirmé Amaq dans un communiqué relayé sur les réseaux sociaux. L'attaque a fait " plus de 20 morts de différentes nationalités" , a affirmé Amaq qui a diffusé des photos montrant des corps baignant dans du sang, qui n'ont pu être authentifiées. Le responsable du restaurant Sumon Reza, qui a réussi à s'échapper en sautant du toit de l'établissement, a déclaré à un quotidien local que vingt étrangers avaient été retenus en otages. "J'étais sur le toit. Tout le bâtiment a tremblé lorsqu'ils ont déclenché des explosifs", a-t-il dit. "Un moment horrible" Un cuisinier argentin du restaurant, Diego Rossini, qui a réussi à s'enfuir, a évoqué "un moment horrible" sur une chaîne de télévision argentine, C5N. "Je ne sais pas bien combien de personnes ils ont tuées", a déclaré ce cuisinier à une autre chaîne argentine, Todo Noticias. "Ca a été un massacre, ils sont entrés en tirant ", avait-il raconté auparavant dans une brève communication avec un ami se trouvant à Buenos Aires avant que l'internet ne soit coupé. Un homme, " très nerveux ", a supplié la police de "ne pas donner l'assaut, disant que dans ce cas les assaillants les tueront" , a rapporté son neveu. Des policiers lourdement armés ont bouclé le quartier dès que la fusillade a éclaté. La police a confirmé que deux de ses hommes avaient été tués et près de 20 blessés. Cette prise d'otages intervient alors que le Bangladesh est frappé par une vague de meurtres de défenseurs de la laïcité, d'intellectuels et de membres de minorités religieuses, imputés à des groupes jihadistes, qui a fait plus de 50 morts en trois ans. Le gouvernement en attribue la responsabilité à la principale formation de l'opposition, le Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), et à ses alliés islamistes. Les autorités ont lancé le mois dernier à travers le pays une série d'opérations contre les groupes jihadistes locaux au cours de laquelle plus de 11.000 personnes ont été arrêtées. Mais des groupes de défense des droits de l'Homme estiment que ces arrestations étaient souvent arbitraires ou qu'elles visaient en réalité à réduire au silence des opposants politiques.
Translation
TERRORIST THREAT
Report published in French journal « Charente Libre », en date du 02/07/2016
MASSACRE IN BANGLADESH: "I FELT THE BULLETS PASSING SO CLOSE TO ME"
Guests at Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka were enjoying their dinner when gunmen burst into the restaurant, separating Bangladeshis from foreigners before unleashing their murderous fury against them. When Bangladeshi commandos stormed the café-restaurant in this elite neighborhood of the capital 11 hours later, its white ground was nothing more than a pool of blood dotted with the bodies of foreigners massacred with knives.
This café, popular with expats, has long been popular with diplomats and Bangladesh's wealthy elite. Friday evening, Hasnat Karim took his entire family for his daughter's birthday. Hasnat is too traumatized to say more than a few words about this nightmare, only stating that the hostage-takers "did not behave badly towards us". However, he told his father Rezaul how the attackers, armed with automatic rifles, grenades and homemade machetes, separated the customers into two groups. "They (the foreigners) were taken upstairs while the Bangladeshis stayed around a table", Rezaul Karim said. In the initial chaos and confusion, many customers managed to escape. A man who managed to flee told Indian channel ABP that the armed men were chanting slogans when they forced the entrance guarded by a single guard. "I ran to warn the others, some managed to escape from behind but the others found themselves trapped", he said on condition of anonymity. "They put people online. There were supposed to be 20 to 25 staff members and 20 to 25 customers, and then they turned off the lights and video surveillance. "Shocked by the massacre" Bangladesh, where 90% of the population is Muslim, had just started a week off to take advantage of the Aid holidays, which mark the end of Ramadan. As soon as the hostage-taking became known, the police rushed to the scene, initiating a shootout with the hostage-takers but quickly found themselves facing strong resistance. "They had automatic weapons and bombs", said Diego Rossini, an Argentine cook who managed to escape. "The hostages (who had escaped) placed themselves under the protection of the police", Rossini told the Argentine channel C5N. "I felt the bullets passing so close to me, I had never been so afraid in my life".
Bangladesh security forces took control this Saturday morning of a restaurant in Dhaka where dozens of people were taken hostage Friday evening, killing six of the attackers. At least 13 hostages, including three foreigners, were rescued by commandos who launched the assault on this restaurant in the Gulshan district frequented by diplomats and expatriates.
The 20 hostages killed by armed men are mainly Italians and Japanese, a senior army official announced. Two police officers died while confronting the armed men who attacked the restaurant.
The restaurant was secured but some of the attackers could be on the run, Tuhin Mohammad Masud, a senior official in the anti-terrorist forces of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), told an Indian television channel. "We killed six of the terrorists. The principal area they occupied has been secured", the head of the RAB, whose forces launched the assault, told Times Now. "Some, however, could be on the run". A photographer on site heard large exchanges of fire when security forces stormed the restaurant, more than ten hours after the hostage-taking began. No desire to negotiate "There is no desire to negotiate" among the attackers, declared the Italian ambassador in Dhaka, Mario Palma. "It's a suicide mission". On Friday evening, around ten armed individuals attacked the Holey Artisan Bakery restaurant in the capital of Bangladesh, according to police and witnesses. The attackers burst into the establishment around 9:20 p.m. (3:20 p.m. GMT) shouting "Allah Akbar" (God is greatest), opening fire and using explosives. ISIS quickly claimed responsibility for the shooting and a "hostage" taking, announced the Amaq news agency, linked to the jihadist organization. "Islamic State commandos attack a restaurant frequented by foreigners in the city of Dhaka, Bangladesh", Amaq said in a statement relayed on social networks. The attack left "more than 20 dead of different nationalities", said Amaq, which released photos showing bodies bathed in blood, which could not be authenticated. Restaurant manager Sumon Reza, who managed to escape by jumping from the roof of the establishment, told a local daily that twenty foreigners had been held hostage. "I was on the roof. The whole building shook when they detonated explosives", he said. "A horrible moment" An Argentinian cook at the restaurant, Diego Rossini, who managed to escape, spoke of "a horrible moment" on an Argentine television channel, C5N. "I don’t really know how many people they killed", this cook told another Argentine channel, Todo Noticias. "It was a massacre, they entered shooting", he previously said in a brief communication with a friend in Buenos Aires before the internet was cut off. A man, "very nervous", begged the police "not to attack, saying that in this case the attackers will kill them", his nephew reported. Heavily armed police cordoned off the neighborhood as soon as the shooting broke out. Police confirmed that two of his men were killed and nearly 20 injured. This hostage-taking comes as Bangladesh is hit by a wave of murders of defenders of secularism, intellectuals and members of religious minorities, attributed to jihadist groups, which has left more than 50 dead in three years. The government attributes responsibility to the main opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), and its Islamist allies. Authorities launched a series of operations across the country last month against local jihadist groups in which more than 11,000 people were arrested. But human rights groups say the arrests were often arbitrary or actually aimed at silencing political opponents.
Analysis
Analysis
It presents speaking-to-the-camera interviews by people immediately after the terrorist attack on Holey Artisan Bakery, Dhaka alongside context about terrorism in Bangladesh. What makes the reporting most efficient is its chronological plot presentation, starting from the attack itself, considering the hostage taking, and culminating in the bloodshed (Roy, 2024). The piece combines multiple realities – of survivors and victims, security forces, government, and internationals – and reflects on the implications of the event for Bangladesh’s security circumstances.
Meaning
From the text we can note several large components of Bangladesh’s threat environment based on its security elements. Firstly, it raises our awareneiss of the fact that foreigniers were attaciked, thus emphaisizing the fact that terirorism in Bangladesh is niot a purely doimestic phenoimenon. Secondly, it shows increasing involvement of organized terrorist organizations, and ISIS in this case (Islam, et al. 2021). The article also discuss about this attack as part of a series of attacks on rationalists and religious minorities in Bangladesh that point to a social war. A number of political aspects of terrorism in Bangladesh can be expected due to the government’s response that blamed the opposition parties for terrorism while conducting mass arrests.
Comparison between French and English Translation
The translation maintains good accuracy but shows some notable differences:
Here, Editions Carnage has a more horrific connotation than the word Massacre which is used in English.
Here the idiomatic translation also holds true: a pool of blood while the French expression une mare de sang is more shocking to the stomach.
The French sous couvert d’anonymat is rendered literally to the more legal-sounding English on condition of anonymity.
The English text is mostly faithful to the French source with retaining of quotation marks and the narrative structure that corresponds to the journalism.
It is also worth noting that the translation of the terms and concepts associated with the security forces and operations are, on the most part, faithful to the technical meanings of the words in both languages.
The term “défenseurs de la laïcité” is translated by “defenders of secularism” which is correct but excludes certain nuances of “laïcité” that are French.
Le Bangladesh : un lieu géostratégique pour l'islam radical
Article rédigé par Alexandre Dumas-Gingras, analyste en formation, à l’Ecole de politique appliquée, Université de Sherbrooke, en date du 28 novembre 2017
Un débat fait rage au Bangladesh depuis quelques années. Le statut de religion officielle accordé à l'islam dans la Constitution soulève les passions. À tel point que la Cour suprême est invitée à se positionner dans le dossier. En mars 2016, une décision est rendue. La plus haute instance judiciaire au pays a tranché en faveur du statu quo. Cette révision suscite bien des questionnements. La crise existentielle que vit présentement ce pays relève de plusieurs facteurs intrinsèques, autant du point de vue historique qu'actuel.
Une histoire complexe
À partir de sa naissance marquée par la violence et l'indignation, le Bangladesh tirera une leçon. Dès 1972, une nouvelle Constitution est adoptée. Le pays fonde alors sa démocratie parlementaire sur quatre principes essentiels : le nationalisme, la démocratie, le socialisme et le sécularisme. Pour éviter les conflits internes, le pays se veut alors laïque. C'est-à-dire que la neutralité de l'État à l'égard de toutes les religions l'emporte, même si la population est à majorité musulmane.
La situation change en 1988. L'islam est alors reconnu comme religion officielle par la Constitution. Les lois demeurent, quant à elles, laïques. Cette dualité et cette ambiguïté constitutionnelle est loin de faire l'unanimité. Avec le temps, cette situation profite aux groupes armés État islamique et Al-Qaïda qui s'installent au pays, devenu propice au recrutement. Si bien que l'on observe depuis quelques années une recrudescence de la violence islamiste. Cette situation inquiète grandement la population. Elle redoute que le sécularisation laisse la place au fondamentalisme.
La percée de l'islamisme radical
La présence des groupes armés État islamique (EI) et Al-Qaïda est maintenant manifeste au Bangladesh. Une prise d'otages dans un restaurant de la capitale Dacca en juillet 2016, qui a fait au moins 20 morts, a d'ailleurs été revendiquée par l'EI. À ce moment, le journal Le Monde indique que cet événement « fait prendre conscience de la gravité de la menace djihadiste au Bangladesh ».
De plus, le parti au pouvoir, la Ligue Awami, cède sous la pression de nombreux groupes religieux fondamentalistes et donne également du terrain au groupe de pression Hefazat-e-Islam. Le meilleur exemple est le retrait de certaines statues dans les lieux publics. Ce groupe continue à prendre de l'ampleur et il réussit même à obtenir l'appui de la quasi-totalité des groupes islamistes radicaux de la région. En 2013, il a notamment publié un rapport formulant pas moins de treize demandes au gouvernement, l'une d'entre elles concernait justement le retrait de certaines statues. La jeunesse bangladaise semble être attirée par la puissance de ces groupes.
Comme le mentionne le quotidien français Le Monde, « Ce pays, où vivent 145 millions de musulmans, est un terrain propice : en proie à des tentations extrémistes, il est également une porte d'entrée vers l'Inde. » À cet égard, le Bangladesh constitue un point de mire pour des groupes fondamentalistes et les groupes armés. Cela fait de lui un lieu géostratégique important.
Un gouvernement proactif
Face à la montée persistante en importance de ces nombreux groupes qui menacent la population locale, le gouvernement tient un discours qui minimise l'ampleur de la situation. Les autorités locales insistent et nient la présence des groupes armés tels que l'EI et Al-Qaida au Bangladesh. Ils associent plutôt ces actes de violence à de petits groupes fondamentalistes locaux.
En juin 2016, le gouvernement a par ailleurs effectué l'arrestation de plus de 5000 individus présumés dangereux et membres de ces petits groupes, en rappelant qu'aucun d'entre eux n'est suspecté de faire partie des groupes armés. Cette importante opération n'a fait qu'envenimer la colère des fondamentalistes qui accusent le gouvernement de répression non justifiée.
Le journal The Diplomat rapporte que le gouvernement bangladais, dans sa volonté de régler le problème de la montée de l'extrémisme, propose d'établir un système de concertation entre le Pakistan, l'Inde et le Bangladesh. De plus, des actions concertées se doivent d'être menées dans le but de faire cesser ces actes de violence et l'escalade de la haine.
Quelques semaines après la prise d'otages de Dacca survenue en juillet 2016, le Bangladesh a demandé à ses imams de prêcher contre l'islam radical. Selon les observateurs, la consigne qui suivra « émane de l'imam de la grande mosquée de Dhaka, qui considère l'islamisme radical comme un fléau moderne (13)». La sacralité de la vie humaine est rappelée et le message est relayé aux fidèles pratiquants.
Le Bangladesh constitue donc un territoire convoité par les groupes armés de l'islam radical à visées terroristes. L'explosion du nombre de fidèles reliés à ces groupes inquiète la communauté internationale et, pour en saisir l'essence, comprendre toute la complexité de la situation au Bangladesh est plus que nécessaire.
Translation
Bangladesh: a geostrategic location for radical Islam
Article written by Alexandre Dumas-Gingras, analyst in training, at the School of Applied Politics, University of Sherbrooke, dated November 28, 2017
There is an intense debate in Bangladesh for several years. The status of official religion granted to Islam in the Constitution excites passions. So much so that the Supreme Court is invited to take a position on the matter. In March 2016, a decision was rendered. The highest judicial body in the country has ruled in favor of the status quo. This revision raises many questions. The existential crisis that this country is currently experiencing is due to several intrinsic factors, both from a historical and current point of view.
A complex story
From its birth marked by violence and indignation, Bangladesh will learn a lesson. In 1972, a new Constitution was adopted. The country then based its parliamentary democracy on four essential principles: nationalism, democracy, socialism and secularism. To avoid internal conflicts, the country then aims to be secular. That is to say, the neutrality of the State with regard to all religions prevails, even if the population is predominantly Muslim.
The situation changed in 1988. Islam is then recognized as an official religion by the Constitution. The laws remain secular. This duality and constitutional ambiguity leaves the population profoundly divided. Over time, this situation benefits the armed groups Islamic State (IS) and Al-Qaeda who settle in the country, which has become conducive to recruitment. So that we have seen a resurgence of Islamist violence in recent years. This situation greatly worries the population. She fears that secularization will give way to fundamentalism.
The breakthrough of radical Islamism
The rise of Islamic State (IS) and Al-Qaeda armed groups is now evident in Bangladesh. A hostage-taking in a restaurant in the capital Dhaka in July 2016, which left at least 20 dead, was also claimed by IS. At this time, the newspaper Le Monde indicates that this « event raises awareness of the seriousness of the jihadist threat in Bangladesh».
Additionally, the ruling Awami League party is giving in under pressure from many fundamentalist religious groups and also giving ground to the Hefazat-e-Islam pressure group. The best example is the removal of certain statues in public places. This group continues to grow and it even succeeds in obtaining the support of almost all radical Islamist groups in the region. In 2013, the group notably published a report formulating no less than thirteen requests to the government, one of which concerned the removal of certain statues. Bangladeshi youth seem to be attracted by the power of these groups.
As mentioned by the French daily Le Monde, « This country, where 145 million Muslims live, is a fertile ground: prey to extremist temptations, it is also a gateway to India.» In this regard, Bangladesh constitutes a focal point for fundamentalist groups and armed groups. This makes it an important geostrategic location.
A proactive government
Faced with the persistent rise in importance of these numerous groups, which threaten the local population, the government is making a speech, which minimizes the scale of the situation. Local authorities insist and deny the presence of armed groups such as ISIS and Al-Qaida in Bangladesh. Rather, they associate these acts of violence with small, local fundamentalist groups.
In June 2016, the government also arrested more than 5,000 suspected dangerous individuals and members of these small groups, recalling that none of them is suspected of being part of armed groups. This important operation has only inflamed the anger of fundamentalists who accuse the government of unjustified repression.
The Diplomat newspaper reports that the Bangladeshi government, in its efforts to resolve the problem of the rise of extremism, is proposing to establish a system of consultation between Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. Furthermore, concerted actions must be taken with the aim of putting an end to these acts of violence and the escalation of hatred.
Weeks after the Dhaka hostage-taking in July 2016, Bangladesh asked its imams to preach against radical Islam. According to observers, the instruction which will follow « comes from the imam of the great mosque of Dhaka, who considers radical Islamism as a modern scourge. The sacredness of human life is recalled and the message is relayed to faithful practitioners.
Bangladesh therefore constitutes a target territory by armed groups of radical Islam with terrorist aims. The explosion in the number of faithful linked to these groups worries the international community and, to understand its essence, understanding the full complexity of the situation in Bangladesh is more than necessary.
Analysis
Analysis
Bangladesh is discussed in the article as to its interaction with the concept of extremism and constitutionality, which seems important in terms of scholarly research. It adequately covers the transformation from secularism in the country to the grappling with radical Islamic first examines twelve defining moments in the country’s history such as the constitutional switch in 1988 among others (Ashrafova, 2023). The piece is especially good in its consideration of history, and current issues, and in mapping out the way that constitutional vagueness has led to opportunities for extreme elements. This method reveals how aspects like the geographic and demography of the Bangladesh sites make them favorably located for the extremists’ purposes.
Meaning
The text shows how Bangladesh has evolved from a secular nation to one that has struggled between secular legal frameworks and recognising Islamic official recognition which the author describes as a grey area. It wants to argue that this constitutional duality has produced favorable conditions for these groups and put forward Bangladesh as not only, an object of extremism but possibly also a point of origination for greater regional impact (Chakma, and Sultana, 2024). The government’s response of denying the presence of ISIS while members of that group are arresting in large numbers shows the level of politics involved. Altogether, the subject matter of the piece positions Bangladesh as the strategic geopolitical site of battle between secularism and fundamentalism which is a harbinger for the larger South Asian region.
Comparison of French and English translation
The translation maintains good accuracy but shows some notable differences:
The French “un débat fait rage”, literally translated as “a debate rages” is translated into more polite “an intense debate” in English.
In French, the words soulève les passions have more of emotional charge than in English when translated as excites passions.
”lieu géostratégique” is translated into English as “geostrategic location” while keeping the strict technical context of the term in French but, of course, with slight loss of polysemanticity.
The French proie à des tentations extrémistes is translated literally into “prey to extremist temptations” in the sense of taking up again the previous metaphor.
The word “fléau moderne” still has aggressive meaning translated into English as “modern scourge” in both French and in English.
The French phrase “à visées terroristes” is translated into “with terrorist aims” – losing a little of the strategic connotation of the Frenchwords.
Nevertheless, the translation mostly stays close to the academic language of the original and to its analytical and scholarly background.
Le weak power, un concept pour penser l’influence des États les plus faibles dans une négociation multilatérale
Article tiré de la revue Cairn.info dans son édition 2018/1 n° 109
Appliqué au Bangladesh et à sa réponse aux défis posés par le changement climatique, le weak power désigne la capacité du pays à faire de sa vulnérabilité un levier d’action publique et diplomatique, ce qui lui permet de se doter d’une image a priori paradoxale de pays à la fois « le plus vulnérable », mais aussi « le plus résilient ». Autrement dit, il caractérise la transformation habile et stratégique de la vulnérabilité du Bangladesh en atout politique, diplomatique et stratégique.
Avec une population approchant les 170 millions d’habitants, le Bangladesh est l’un des pays les plus peuplés de la planète, mais aussi l’un des plus pauvres et des plus vulnérables aux dégradations environnementales. Son exposition aux aléas climatiques l’a placé sous les feux des projecteurs des médias et des organisations non gouvernementales (ONG), au point que cet État est rarement connu pour autre chose que les catastrophes qui le frappent régulièrement. A priori peu enviable, cette étiquette de pays « le plus vulnérable » a pourtant permis au Bangladesh de gagner en importance et en visibilité sur la scène internationale. Mais la vulnérabilité a également favorisé une prise de conscience précoce des dangers du changement climatique pour le développement, la stabilité et la sécurité du territoire. Elle a conduit l’ensemble des acteurs – gouvernement, citoyens, ONG, experts – à mettre en place des politiques et des mesures d’adaptation et de gestion des catastrophes naturelles avant-gardistes qui font aujourd’hui du pays un modèle à suivre dans ces domaines. Véritable consécration de ces efforts, la Première ministre du Bangladesh a reçu, le 27 septembre 2015, le prix des Champions de la Terre du Programme des Nations unies pour l’environnement (PNUE) – soit la plus haute distinction environnementale onusienne – en guise de reconnaissance de son leadership dans la lutte contre le changement climatique.
Un pays pionnier dans le domaine de l’adaptation et de la gestion des catastrophes naturelles
Naturellement exposé aux cyclones et aux inondations en raison de sa situation géographique au cœur du delta du Bengale, le Bangladesh a investi dès son indépendance, en 1971, dans la mise en place d’un système de gestion des risques de catastrophes, qui a depuis fait ses preuves. Ainsi, alors que le cyclone Bhola faisait près de 500 000 morts en 1970, le cyclone Aila n’en causait lui « que » 300 en 2009. À l’origine de ce résultat, un système d’alerte précoce centré notamment sur un accès rapide des populations les plus vulnérables à des informations fiables, leur permettant de prendre la bonne décision entre fuir ou rester pour protéger leurs maisons et leurs biens, et transmises par le biais des radios locales, de la technologie mobile ou de milliers de volontaires formés pour avertir des dangers. Considéré par les institutions onusiennes comme un modèle à suivre en matière de réduction des risques de catastrophes, le Bangladesh n’attire plus seulement l’attention pour les crises humanitaires déclenchées par les inondations et les cyclones dévastateurs, mais aussi pour les leçons qu’il est en mesure d’apporter au reste du monde. L’invitation par le Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) – un centre de recherche de l’Administration nationale de l’aéronautique et de l’espace états-unienne (NASA) – de spécialistes bangladais de la gestion des catastrophes naturelles pour venir partager leur expérience après le passage de l’ouragan Sandy sur la ville de New York en 2012 est tout aussi anecdotique qu’éclairante à cet égard.
Alors que les impacts du changement climatique sur son territoire sont d’ores et déjà réels et constatables, le Bangladesh a été l’un des premiers pays à relever le défi climatique et à développer des solutions innovantes, malgré des capacités de financement limitées et des problèmes de gouvernance multiples. Il est notamment loué pour avoir été le premier pays en développement (PED) à formuler, dès 2009, une stratégie de lutte contre le changement climatique et un plan d’action associé. Si celle-ci accorde logiquement la priorité aux mesures d’adaptation, elle intègre aussi des programmes d’atténuation des émissions de gaz à effet de serre (GES), pourtant non imposés par les décisions de la CCNUCC compte tenu de la contribution négligeable du Bangladesh aux émissions mondiales (0,35 %) et de son faible niveau de développement. Le pays a ainsi mis en place le plus grand programme de panneaux solaires individuels au monde, qui permet actuellement de fournir de l’électricité à plus de 20 millions de foyers, notamment en zones rurales.
Afin de financer son action climatique nationale, le Bangladesh est aussi le premier pays à avoir créé, en 2009, un fonds fiduciaire entièrement alimenté par les fonds propres du gouvernement, le Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund . Doté en 2015 de 400 millions de dollars, cet instrument était alors mieux alimenté que le fonds multidonateurs parallèlement mis en place, le Bangladesh Climate Change Resilience Fund . Ce mécanisme financier est régulièrement mis en avant dans les COP par les négociateurs bangladais pour démontrer la capacité du pays à gérer des volumes financiers importants et susciter la confiance des bailleurs internationaux pour attirer de nouveaux financements, malgré les soupçons de corruption et d’abus dont il fait l’objet. Présenté comme un exemple de bonne pratique à reproduire, ce fonds a servi de modèle à la mise en place de mécanismes similaires aux Maldives et en Indonésie.
Ces innovations ont contribué à activer le weak power du Bangladesh dans les négociations climatiques internationales. Elles ont en effet permis au pays de se positionner comme un « bon élève » de la lutte mondiale contre le changement climatique et un exemple à suivre. Il a ainsi gagné en autorité et en légitimité, notamment au sein du groupe des pays les moins avancés (PMA), dont il est devenu l’un des porte-parole dans les négociations, mais également pu revaloriser son image internationale en insistant sur sa résilience, et non uniquement sur sa vulnérabilité. Cette résilience doit aussi beaucoup au dynamisme des ONG et des communautés locales, qui ont appris à vivre avec les catastrophes naturelles : elles ont développé un savoir expérientiel précieux et mis en place des stratégies ingénieuses pour s’adapter à ces aléas.
Un « hub » de l’expertise climatique du Sud
La vulnérabilité climatique du Bangladesh a non seulement constitué un important levier d’action publique en matière d’adaptation, mais aussi transformé le pays en véritable terrain d’expérimentation et de production de nouveaux savoirs. Comme le résume Saleemul Huq, un scientifique bangladais renommé dans le domaine de l’adaptation, « l’une des caractéristiques de l’adaptation en tant que science, c’est que les riches n’ont aucun avantage. Les pauvres ont un avantage comparatif, car nous sommes assis sur le problème, nous devons y faire face. Nous développerons les solutions au fur et à mesure, plus qu’Oxford, Harvard ou Yale. Ils ont les modèles informatiques qui peuvent tout simuler, mais ils n’ont pas le problème. Ils devront venir à nous ». Tout comme le Bangladesh fut, au moment de son indépendance, considéré comme un laboratoire du développement, son exposition aux événements climatiques extrêmes en a fait également un laboratoire de l’adaptation attirant de nombreux chercheurs et ONG étrangers. Qui veut observer les impacts tangibles du changement climatique, étudier la résilience locale ou tester de nouveaux programmes d’adaptation, ne peut faire l’économie de venir au Bangladesh, qui a ainsi gagné en visibilité et en attraction internationales.
Translation
Weak power, a concept for thinking about the influence of the weakest states in a multilateral negotiation
Article taken from the journal Cairn.info in its edition 2018/1 n° 109
Applied to Bangladesh and its response to the challenges posed by climate change, weak power designates the country's capacity to make its vulnerability a lever for public and diplomatic action, which allows it to equip itself, a priori, with a paradoxical image of a country that is both « the most vulnerable », but also « the most resilient ». In other words, it characterizes the skillful and strategic transformation of Bangladesh's vulnerability into a political, diplomatic and strategic asset.
With a population approaching 170 million inhabitants, Bangladesh is one of the most populous countries on the planet, but also one of the poorest and most vulnerable to environmental degradation. Its exposure to climatic hazards has placed it in the spotlight of the media and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), to the point that this state is rarely known for anything other than the disasters that regularly strike it. A priori undesirable, this label of « country the most vulnerable » has nevertheless allowed Bangladesh to gain importance and visibility on the international scene. However, vulnerability has also promoted early awareness of the dangers of climate change for development, stability and territorial security. It has led all actors – government, citizens, NGOs, – experts to put in place advanced policies and measures for adaptation and management of natural disasters which today make the country a model to follow in these areas. A true testament of these efforts, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh received, on September 27, 2015, the Champions of the Earth award from the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) –, the highest UN environmental distinction – as recognition of its leadership in the fight against climate change.
A pioneering country in the field of adaptation and management of natural disasters
Naturally exposed to cyclones and floods due to its geographical location in the heart of the Bengal Delta, Bangladesh has invested since its independence in 1971 in the establishment of a disaster risk management system, which has since proven itself. Thus, while Cyclone Bhola caused nearly 500,000 deaths in 1970, Cyclone Aila only caused « » 300 in 2009. At the origin of this result, an early warning system focused in particular on rapid access for the most vulnerable population to reliable information, allowing them to make the right decision between fleeing or staying to protect their homes and property, and transmitted through local radios, mobile technology or thousands of volunteers trained to warn of dangers. Considered by UN institutions as a model to follow in disaster risk reduction, Bangladesh no longer only attracts attention for the humanitarian crises triggered by devastating floods and cyclones, but also for the lessons, it is able to bring to the rest of the world. The invitation by the Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) – a research center of the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) – of Bangladeshi specialists in natural disaster management to come and share their experiences after Hurricane ‘Sandy’ hit New York City in 2012 is as anecdotal as it is enlightening in this regard.
While the impacts of climate change on its territory are already real and observable, Bangladesh was one of the first countries to address the climate challenge and develop innovative solutions, despite limited financing capacities and multiple governance issues. The country is particularly praised for being the first developing country (DC) to formulate a strategy to combat climate change and an associated action plan as early as 2009. While the GHG strategy logically prioritizes adaptation, it also includes programmes to mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, yet not imposed by UNFCCC decisions given Bangladesh’s negligible contribution to global emissions (0.35%) and low level of development. The country has set up the largest individual solar panel programme in the world, which currently provides electricity to more than 20 million homes, particularly in rural areas.
In order to finance its national climate action, Bangladesh was also the first country to have created, in 2009, a fully government-funded trust fund in 2009, the Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund. With initial $400 million in 2015, this instrument was then better funded than the multi-donor fund set up at the same time, the Bangladesh Climate Change Resilience Fund. This financial mechanism is regularly highlighted in the COPs by Bangladeshi negotiators to demonstrate the country's capacity to manage significant financial volumes and generate confidence among international donors to attract new financing, despite the suspicion of corruption. Presented as an example of good practice to replicate, this fund served as a model for the establishment of similar mechanisms in the Maldives and Indonesia.
These innovations have helped activate Bangladesh's weak power in international climate negotiations. They have indeed allowed the country to position itself as a « good student » in the global fight against climate change and an example to follow. It has thus gained authority and legitimacy, particularly within the group of least developed countries (LDCs), of which it has become one of the spokespersons in the negotiations, but also been able to enhance its international image by insisting on its resilience, not just its vulnerability. This resilience also owes a lot to the dynamism of NGOs and local communities, which have learned to live with natural disasters: they have developed valuable experiential knowledge and implemented ingenious strategies to adapt to these hazards.
A « hub » of Southern climate expertise
Bangladesh's climate vulnerability has not only constituted an important lever for public action in terms of adaptation, but also transformed the country into a real field of experimentation and production of new knowledge. As Saleemul Huq, a renowned Bangladeshi adaptation scientist, summarizes, « one of the hallmarks of adaptation as a science is that the rich have no advantage. The poor have a comparative advantage, because we are sitting on the problem, we have to deal with it. We will develop solutions as we go, more than Oxford, Harvard or Yale. They have the computer models that can simulate everything, but they do not have the problem. They will have to come to us ». Just as Bangladesh was, at the time of its independence, considered a laboratory for development, its exposure to extreme climatic events also made it a laboratory of adaptation attracting many foreign researchers and NGOs. Anyone who wants to observe the tangible impacts of climate change, study local resilience or test new adaptation programmes, you cannot avoid coming to Bangladesh, which has thus gained international visibility and attraction.
Analysis
The English translation of Article 7 preserves the essence of the original French text, effectively conveying the concept of "weak power" and its application to Bangladesh's climate response. The translation accurately reflects the definition of "weak power" as the ability of structurally weak actors to transform their vulnerabilities into strategic advantages in international negotiations. This core concept, highlighting how Bangladesh leverages its vulnerabilities for influence, is well preserved in the English version.
The descriptive details about Bangladesh’s geographic vulnerability and its proactive climate policies are faithfully translated, maintaining the original's emphasis on the country's transformation from a symbol of vulnerability to a model of resilience. The translation effectively captures the significance of Bangladesh’s achievements, including the receipt of the ‘Champions of the Earth’ award, which recognizes the country’s leadership in climate action.
The historical and geographical context provided in the French text, such as the impacts of cyclones and floods, is accurately represented in the English version. Specific examples, like the comparison between Cyclone Bhola and Cyclone Aila, are clearly conveyed, preserving the original's detailed account of Bangladesh's disaster management advancements. The translation also maintains the focus on Bangladesh's innovative practices, including its early warning systems and the large-scale solar panel program, as well as the significance of the Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund in international climate finance.
The challenges in translation : ‘peu enviable’ in this context, the translation ‘undesirable’ seems to me more adapted to the target language. A good research is necessary to find a word suitable for the term ‘avant-garde’ in accordance with the theme. ‘Advanced’ seems to me more adjustable to perform a seamless translation. In this particular text, the English translation requires a reel skill because the challenge here is to formulate, without changing the meaning, in a style that is readable and soothing for the target audience.
The quote from Saleemul Huq regarding the comparative advantage of poor countries in climate adaptation is effectively translated, preserving the original’s message about Bangladesh's unique position in adaptation research. However, the translation could benefit from slight refinements to enhance clarity and readability, ensuring that complex sentences are straightforward without losing depth.
COVID -19 - 2020
Développement
Covid-19 : le Bangladesh frappé au portefeuille
Article tiré du quotidien ‘Libération’ de son édition du 24 juin 2020, rédigé par Laurence Defranoux
Le pays d'Asie, qui caracolait à 8,1% de croissance économique l'an dernier, subit de plein fouet la crise du prêt-à-porter en Occident.
Il était le bon élève des pays les moins avancés, avec une pauvreté divisée par deux en quinze ans, un PIB multiplié par 2,5 en dix ans, une croissance économique de 8,1%, un taux de mortalité infantile en chute libre, une espérance de vie en hausse perpétuelle. Le Bangladesh comptait sortir en 2024 des pays les moins développés socio-économiquement de la planète. Mais les conséquences en cascade de l’épidémie mondiale de Covid-19 pourraient repousser l’échéance.
Le pays de 168 millions d’habitants est frappé de plein fouet par le coup d’arrêt porté au secteur du prêt-à-porter. Or, le textile représente 80% des recettes du Bangladesh, deuxième exportateur mondial du secteur. Ses principaux clients, l’Union européenne, le Royaume-Uni et les Etats-Unis ont été très touchés par le Covid-19. Selon le groupement d'entreprises BGMEA, la somme des commandes annulées par les acheteurs étrangers depuis le mois de mars représente 2,8 milliards d’euros. En avril, Dacca a vu chuter ses exportations de 84%, et malgré une timide reprise, 179 usines ont déjà annoncé leur fermeture. Des dizaines, voire des centaines d’autres s’apprêtent à mettre la clé sous la porte. Deux millions d’ouvrières seraient directement touchées.
«Terreur»
Dans une interview donnée au journal allemand Deutsche Welle, Rubana Huq, la patronne de BGMEA, évoque la «terreur» qu'inspire la possible insolvabilité de grandes marques comme Camaïeu ou la Halle aux vêtements : «Lorsqu'un acheteur fait faillite, cela se répercute immédiatement sur les paiements en souffrance auprès de ses fournisseurs.» Elle déplore aussi que les acheteurs européens, qui représentent plus de la moitié des clients du Bangladesh, réclament désormais des rabais de «20%, voire 50%».
Par ailleurs, le choix du gouvernement de mettre le pays à l'arrêt durant six semaines entre mars et mai pour tenter d'endiguer l'épidémie a porté un coup très dur à l'économie informelle, qui représente au moins 80% de l'emploi au Bangladesh. Selon une étude menée par des ONG locales, 50 millions de personnes, soit près d'un tiers des habitants, gagnent désormais moins de 160 takas par jour (1,7 euro), et parmi ceux-ci, la moitié déclarait à la fin du mois de mai ne plus toucher aucun revenu. Selon des estimations des chercheurs du South Asian Network on Economic Modeling, le taux de pauvreté pourrait bondir cette année de 20% à 40% de la population, balayant des années d'efforts en matière de réduction de la pauvreté. Douze millions de nouveaux pauvres pourraient apparaître cette année.
L’argent de la diaspora évaporé
Le deuxième moteur de l'économie bangladaise, l'envoi de fonds par la diaspora, est lui aussi ralenti. En 2019, les 10 millions d'expatriés avaient fait parvenir à leur famille restée au pays 18 milliards d'euros, ce qui représentait 7% du PIB et une moyenne de 300 à 600 euros mensuels par foyer. Or, ces travailleurs migrants sont majoritairement employés dans le secteur du tourisme et de la construction au Moyen-Orient, une région touchée par le ralentissement mondial et la baisse des cours du pétrole. Selon les estimations de la Banque mondiale, cette manne, qui bénéficiait particulièrement aux zones rurales, pourrait se réduire de 4 milliards d'euros pour 2020, et 1,4 million de travailleurs expatriés pourraient être renvoyés au Bangladesh par leurs employeurs. Malgré tout, le pays ne devrait pas entrer en récession : le FMI estime que le taux de croissance économique du pays va descendre à 3,8% pour 2020, au lieu des 8% prévus.
Devant cette avalanche de mauvaises nouvelles sur le front économique, la Première ministre, Sheikh Hasina, a lancé des plans de relance économique et financière, et réclamé de l'aide à ses partenaires étrangers. Mais avec des recettes fiscales très faibles, la marge de manœuvre est étroite. Mardi, des experts de l'ONU ont évoqué la possibilité que le Bangladesh renonce à sortir en 2024 de la catégorie des pays les moins avancés pour rejoindre les pays en développement, ce qui aurait l'avantage de lui conserver des tarifs douaniers préférentiels pour ses exportations, notamment vers l'Europe. Des critiques commencent à se faire jour sur l'«obsession de la croissance» du régime.
Translation
Development
Covid-19: Bangladesh hit in the wallet
Article taken from the daily ‘Libération’ of its June 24, 2020 edition, written by Laurence Defranoux
The Asian country, which had an 8.1% economic growth last year, is suffering from the full impact of the ready-to-wear crisis in the West.
The country has been considered as a good student of the least developed countries, with poverty halved in fifteen years, GDP multiplied by 2.5 in ten years, economic growth of 8.1%, the rapid decline in infant mortality rate, life expectancy in perpetual increase. In 2024, Bangladesh expected to emerge from the least socio-economically developed countries on the planet. However, the cascading consequences of the global Covid-19 epidemic could push back the deadline.
The country of 168 million people is hit hard by the shutdown of the readymade garments sector. However, textiles account for 80% of revenue in Bangladesh, the world's second largest exporter in the sector. Its main customers, the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States, have been very affected by Covid-19. According to the BGMEA group of companies, the sum of orders cancelled by foreign buyers since March represents 2.8 billion euros. In April, Dhaka saw its exports fall by 84%, and despite a timid recovery, 179 factories have already announced their closure. Dozens, if not hundreds, of others are preparing to go out of business. Two million female workers would be directly affected.
«Terror»
In an interview given to the German newspaper Deutsche Welle, Rubana Huq, the boss of BGMEA, discusses the «terror» inspired by the possible insolvency of major brands like Camaïeu or the Clothing Hall: «When a buyer goes bankrupt, this immediately affects the outstanding payments to its suppliers. » She also deplores that European buyers, who represent more than half of Bangladesh's customers, are now demanding discounts of «20%, or even 50%».
Furthermore, the government’s decision to shut down the country for six weeks between March and May to try to stem the epidemic has severely affected the informal economy, which represents at least 80% of the employment in Bangladesh. According to a study carried out by local NGOs, 50 million people, or almost a third of residents, now earn less than 160 takas per day (1.7 euros), and of these, half declared no income at the end of May. According to estimates by researchers at the South Asian Network on Economic Modeling, the poverty rate could jump from 20% to 40% of the population this year, sweeping away years of efforts to reduce poverty. Dozens, even hundreds of others are preparing to go out of business.
Diaspora money evaporated
The second engine of the Bangladeshi economy, remittances from the diaspora have also decreased. In 2019, the 10 million expatriates sent their families back home 18 billion euros, which represented 7% of GDP and an average of 300 to 600 euros per month per household. However, these migrant workers are mainly employed in the tourism and construction sector in the Middle East, a region affected by the global slowdown and falling oil prices. According to World Bank estimates, this blessing, which particularly benefited rural areas, could be reduced by 4 billion euros for 2020, and their employers could send 1.4 million expatriate workers back to Bangladesh. Despite everything, the country is not expected to enter recession: the IMF estimates that the country's economic growth rate will fall to 3.8% for 2020, instead of the 8% forecast.
Faced with this avalanche of bad news on the economic front, the Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, launched economic and financial recovery plans, and demanded help from her foreign partners. However, with very low tax revenues, the room for maneuver is narrow. On Tuesday, UN experts raised the possibility that Bangladesh would give up leaving the category of least developed countries in 2024 to join developing countries, which would have the advantage of retaining preferential customs tariffs for its exports, particularly to Europe. Criticisms are starting to emerge about the diet's growth obsession«.
Analysis
The English translation of Article 7 provides a clear and accurate representation of the original French text, detailing the severe economic and social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Bangladesh. Terms like "croissance économique de 8, 1%" are translated directly as "economic growth of 8.1%," maintaining the original's specificity regarding Bangladesh’s pre-pandemic economic performance. The translation of "commandes annulées par les acheteurs étrangers" as "orders canceled by foreign buyers" is precise, reflecting the significant financial losses detailed in the article. The French term "prêt-à-porter" is translated as "readymade garments," which accurately reflects the industry being discussed. This term effectively captures the sector’s impact on Bangladesh’s economy. The original French phrase "le Bangladesh frappé au portefeuille" is translated as "Bangladesh hit in the wallet," which aptly conveys the economic strain on the country, preserving the metaphorical impact described.
Moreover, the French phrase "deux millions d’ouvrières" is translated as "two million female workers workers," if that detail is relevant for context. Similarly, "179 usines ont déjà annoncé leur fermeture" is translated as "179 factories have already announced their closure," capturing the original’s detail about factory closures. The translation of "la Première ministre, Sheikh Hasina, a lancé des plans de relance économique et financière" as "Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has launched economic and financial recovery plans" correctly conveys the government’s response.
The term "l’argent de la diaspora évaporé" is translated as "diaspora money evaporated," which effectively communicates the decline in remittances. The term "fonds envoyés par la diaspora" translates to "funds sent by the diaspora," accurately reflects the financial contributions of expatriates. Overall, the translation maintains the essence of the original article, but certain terms and phrases could be refined for greater clarity.
Some terms like ‘le bon élève’, ‘le choix du gouvernement’ and ‘Manne’ require a good attention for a meaningful translation. These are translated consecutively as ‘having a good record’, the government decision’ and blessing, for a clear understanding of the message of the article for target audience.
Au Bangladesh, l’exil d’un million de Rohingyas dans le plus grand camp de réfugiés au monde
Article tiré du journal en ligne lesoir.be de son édition du 18/11/2022 rédigé par Véronique Kiesel
Au Bangladesh, à quelques kilomètres de la frontière birmane, une fine langue de terre accueille un million de Rohingyas en exil, fuyant les persécutions et le nettoyage ethnique génocidaire qui sévissent dans leur pays. Beaucoup ont vécu l’horreur et tous tentent de redémarrer leur vie, notamment grâce à l’aide humanitaire qui s’y est organisée.
Fuir des attaques génocidaires et devoir repartir de zéro est atrocement difficile. Mais pour les femmes, qui ont subi des violences et restent soumises à un ordre patriarcal, c’est encore pire. Paradoxalement, vivre dans un camp de réfugiés leur donne une chance de sortir de traditions pesantes.
Envoyée spéciale à Cox’s Bazar (Bangladesh)
A perte de vue, des toits de tôle ou de bâches. Bienvenue dans le plus grand camp de réfugiés au monde : près d’un million de Rohingyas y vivent, entassés, sur une superficie totale de treize km2 (élément de comparaison : la Région bruxelloise compte 1,2 million d’habitants sur 161 km2).
En 2017, plus de 700.000 personnes appartenant à cette minorité musulmane de Birmanie avaient franchi précipitamment la frontière les séparant du Bangladesh pour fuir les persécutions et un nettoyage ethnique génocidaire – villages brûlés, massacres, viols généralisés – organisé contre eux par les militaires birmans. Ils ont rejoint d’autres Rohingyas y ayant déjà trouvé refuge lors de précédentes vagues de violence. Et, en cinq ans, de nombreux enfants y sont nés. D’où le chiffre vertigineux d’un million de personnes en exil sur ce bout de terre, avec interdiction de sortir du camp…
On y pousse la porte d’une vaste maison construite en bambous autour d’un patio fleuri, décorée de guirlandes de papier et de tapis colorés. L’atmosphère de cet « Espace sécurisé pour femmes » (les hommes n’y sont pas admis) est merveilleusement tranquille : une oasis de paix dans cet environnement surpeuplé en perpétuelle agitation. Un groupe de femmes papote en brodant. Sur la terrasse, des adolescentes rieuses apprennent à tisser des objets en perles. A l’arrière du bâtiment, de hauts murs protègent une vaste douche permettant aux femmes de se laver en toute intimité.
Coincées dans des vies inextricables
Il y 18 espaces de ce type dans cet immense camp où la vie est encore beaucoup plus rude pour les femmes. Souvent privées d’éducation, soumises à la volonté de leur père puis d’un mari qu’elles n’ont pas toujours choisi, beaucoup se retrouvent coincées dans des vies inextricables. Comme Yasmine, rencontrée dans un autre quartier du camp, maman analphabète de deux jeunes enfants dont le mari est mort dans un accident de travail et qui doit s’occuper en outre de sa mère diabétique. Ou Nafiza, mariée par ses parents à un homme dont elle ignorait qu’il souffrait d’un lourd handicap, et qui se retrouve dans la misère, isolée, forcée de s’occuper de lui et de leurs deux jeunes enfants.
Dans la grande salle de cette maison des femmes, Fatima, 25 ans, assiste avec une quinzaine d’autres participantes à la réunion de leur groupe de volontaires communautaires. « Si j’avais eu conscience de cela plus tôt, je ne me serais pas mariée avec cet homme », lance Fatima, regard noir sous son voile bleu clair brodé de quelques perles. « Il a dix ans de plus que moi, il est méchant, abusif, violent : il me réclamait sans cesse plus d’argent, celui de ma dot. Alors je me suis enfuie de chez lui, je suis revenue chez mes parents, ici au camp, mais il a gardé mon bébé qui a quinze mois. C’est un déchirement… »
« Quand nous vivions dans notre village en Birmanie, nous avons vu monter l’intolérance », se souvient-elle. « Les filles ne pouvaient pas aller à l’école avec un voile, et les universités étaient fermées aux Rohingyas. On ne pouvait pas recevoir quelqu’un ni se déplacer sans la permission des autorités, au risque de se faire frapper, par des militaires mais aussi par des villageois bouddhistes des environs. Et puis, en 2017, le pire a commencé : ils ont incendié nos maisons. Une de mes cousines a été brûlée vive chez elle. Tant de morts. D’innombrables viols. Nous nous sommes tous enfuis mais ma sœur aînée s’est noyée alors que nous traversions le fleuve Naf pour rejoindre le Bangladesh. C’était atroce. »
« Longtemps, j’ai fait des cauchemars, je revivais ces événements. Maintenant, cela s’est estompé. Et finalement, je me sens plus libre et plus en sécurité dans ce camp : je n’ai aucune envie de rentrer en Birmanie, même si notre maison, nos terres, notre village me manquent. Mais je veux surtout récupérer mon bébé. Or je suis coincée : mon mari m’a dit que si je reprends mon fils, il tuera mon frère. »
Permettre à ces réfugiés sans statut de se construire un futur, de sortir de l’inaction et du désespoir, c’est un des plus grands défis auxquels sont confrontées les agences humanitaires qui font fonctionner ce camp géant. Les Rohingyas y sont en sécurité, y ont un toit, y sont nourris, mais les années passent, et aucune solution d’avenir ne se dessine : le Bangladesh leur a généreusement ouvert ses frontières mais refuse de leur accorder le statut de réfugiés qui les autoriserait à fréquenter les écoles nationales et à s’intégrer dans la société, à y trouver du travail. Ce pays surpeuplé peine déjà à fournir des conditions de vie dignes à ses 170 millions de citoyens.
In Bangladesh, the exile of a million Rohingya in the largest refugee camp in the world
Article taken from the online newspaper lesoir.be from its edition of 11/18/2022 written by Véronique Kiesel
In Bangladesh, a few kilometers from the Burmese border, a fine strip of land welcomes a million Rohingya in exile, fleeing the persecution and genocidal ethnic cleansing that is rampant in their country. Many have experienced horror and all are trying to restart their lives, thanks in particular to the humanitarian aid organized there.
Fleeing genocidal attacks and having to start from scratch is excruciatingly difficult. However, for women, who have suffered violence and remain subject to a patriarchal order, it is even worse. Paradoxically, living in a refugee camp gives them a chance to escape burdensome traditions.
Special correspondent in Cox's Bazar (Bangladesh)
As far as the eye can see, sheet metal roofs or tarpaulins. Welcome to the largest refugee camp in the world: nearly a million Rohingya live there, crowded together, over a total area of thirteen km2 (element of comparison: the Brussels Region has 1.2 million inhabitants over 161 km2).
In 2017, more than 700,000 people belonging to this Muslim minority in Burma rushed across the border separating them from Bangladesh, to flee persecution and genocidal ethnic cleansing – villages burned, massacres, widespread rapes – organized against them by the Burmese military. They joined other Rohingya who had already found refuge there during previous waves of violence. In five years, many children have been born there. Hence the dizzying figure of a million people in exile on this piece of land, with a ban on leaving the camp…
There we open the door of a vast house built of bamboo around a flowered patio, decorated with paper garlands and colorful carpets. The atmosphere of this « Safe space for women » (men are not allowed) is wonderfully peaceful: an oasis of peace in this constantly bustling overcrowded environment. A group of women chats while embroidering. On the terrace, laughing teenage girls learn to weave beaded objects. At the rear of the building, high walls protect a large shower allowing women to wash in complete privacy.
Stuck in inextricable lives
There are 18 such spaces in this huge camp where life is even harsher for women. Often deprived of education, subject to the will of their father and then a husband whom they have not always chosen, many find themselves stuck in inextricable lives. Like Yasmine, met in another area of the camp, an illiterate mother of two young children whose husband died in a work accident and who also has to take care of her diabetic mother. On the contrary, Nafiza, married by her parents to a man whom she did not know suffered from a severe disability, and who finds herself in poverty, isolated, forced to take care of him and their two young children.
In the large room of this women's house, Fatima, 25, attends with around fifteen other participants the meeting of their group of community volunteers. « If I had been aware of this earlier, I would not have married this man », says Fatima, glaring under her light blue veil embroidered with a few pearls. « He is ten years older than me, he is mean, abusive, and violent: he constantly asked me for more money, that of my dowry. Therefore, I ran away from his house, I came back to my parents, here at the camp, but he kept my baby who is fifteen months old. It is heartbreaking... »
« When we lived in our village in Burma, we saw the rise of intolerance », she remembers. « Girls couldn't go to school with a veil, and universities were closed to Rohingya. You could not receive someone or move around without permission from the authorities, at the risk of being beaten; by soldiers but also by Buddhist villagers in the surrounding area. And then, in 2017, the worst started: they set our houses on fire. One of my cousins was burned alive in her home. So many deaths. Countless rapes. We all ran away but my older sister drowned as we crossed the Naf River into Bangladesh. It was atrocious. »
« For a long time, I had nightmares, I relived these events. Now, that has faded. Finally, I feel freer and safer in this camp: I have no desire to return to Burma, even if I miss our house, our land, our village. Above all, I want my baby back. Nevertheless, I am stuck: my husband told me that if I take my son back, he would kill my brother. »
Allowing these non-status refugees to build a future for themselves, to emerge from inaction and despair, is one of the greatest challenges facing the humanitarian agencies that run this giant camp. The Rohingya are safe, have a roof over their heads, are fed there, but the years go by, and no solution for the future is in sight: Bangladesh has generously opened its borders to them but refuses to grand them refugee status that would allow them to attend national schools and integrate into society, to find work. This overpopulated country is already struggling to provide dignified living conditions for its 170 million citizens.
Analysis
The translation of Article 9 from French to English effectively communicates the core message and emotional weight of the original text. The term "camp de réfugiés" is accurately translated as "refugee camp," correctly reflecting the scale and context of the largest refugee camp in the world described in the article. The translation of "nettoyage ethnique génocidaire" as "genocidal ethnic cleansing" successfully captures the severity of the violence faced by the Rohingya, aligning well with the French term.
However, some terms and expressions could be refined to better capture the nuances of the original text. For instance, "Espace sécurisé pour femmes" is translated as "Safe space for women," better encapsulates the supportive environment intended in the French text.
The phrase "Coincées dans des vies inextricables" is translated as "Stuck in inextricable lives," though "trapped in inextricable situations" could more clearly convey the sense of entrapment. On the ethical ground, the later term has not been chosen in target language.
The phrase "Le pire a commencé" is translated as "the worst started," effectively capturing the dramatic escalation of violence. The translation of "maman analphabète" as "illiterate mother" is accurate but could be expanded to "illiterate mother who has faced significant hardship" to better capture Yasmine’s situation.
Overall, the effort is made so that the translation succeeds in conveying the primary details and emotional depth of the French article. The translation remains faithful to the source material, preserving both the factual content and the emotional resonance of the article.
Student Protest
Révoltes au Bangladesh : les raisons de la colère
Article tiré du journal enligne ‘France24’ de son édition du 05/08/2024, rédigé par Louis CHAHUNEAU
Après un mois d’émeutes au Bangladesh, les manifestants ont obtenu la démission de la Première ministre Sheikh Hasina, chassée du pouvoir par un mouvement de contestation d’une violence sans précédent depuis l’indépendance du pays en 1971. Au-delà du chômage des jeunes, la Dame de fer du Bangladesh a payé les frais d’une opposition politique muselée depuis 15 ans.
Elle était en poste depuis quinze ans. La Première ministre du Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, a démissionné et fui en Inde lundi 5 août, avant l'assaut de son palais par des manifestants antigouvernementaux à Dacca. "Elle a fui le pays, elle a fui", ont-ils scandé avant de pénétrer dans l’enceinte de la résidence et d’en repartir avec des télévisions, des chaises et des tables.
Après un mois de manifestations contre la réforme des quotas dans la fonction publique, les émeutes ont provoqué dimanche la mort d’au moins 91 personnes, dont 13 policiers, soit le pire bilan depuis le début de la contestation étudiante. Lundi, au moins 56 personnes sont mortes. Les étudiants avaient appelé à une grande marche, en dépit du couvre-feu imposé par les autorités, qui avaient également décrété trois jours de congé au niveau national à compter de lundi.
"Le pays traverse actuellement une période de révolution", a déclaré lundi, dans une allocution télévisée, le général Waker-Uz-Zaman, le chef de l’armée, qui a pris ses fonctions le 23 juin. L’officier a également lancé un appel au calme : "S'il vous plaît, ne retournez pas sur le chemin de la violence, revenez à des voies non-violentes et pacifiques".
Depuis juillet, le bilan s’élève à 300 morts. "Ce regain de violences s’explique peut-être par le fait que les manifestants les plus motivés politiquement ont senti que le pouvoir allait vaciller", explique Philippe Benoît, maître de conférence à l’Institut national des langues et civilisations orientales (Inalco) et spécialiste du Bangladesh.
Des emplois publics très demandés
La crise a éclaté en juillet dernier avec des manifestations antigouvernementales à l'initiative d'un collectif étudiant, "Students against discrimination" ("Etudiants contre la discrimination"), qui protestaient contre la réinstauration en juin de quotas dans la fonction publique, jugés discriminants.
« Ce n’est pas le gouvernement à proprement parler, mais une décision de justice qui a rétabli les quotas », rappelle Philippe Benoît. Le 5 juin, la Haute Cour du pays a ordonné au gouvernement de rétablir le quota de 30 % d’emplois gouvernementaux réservés aux proches des « Freedom fighters » (combattants de la libertés, NDLR), ces soldats qui se sont battus contre le Pakistan pour l’indépendance du pays en 1971. Introduits dès 1972 par le père de la Première ministre démissionnaire, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, ces quotas sont accusés de favoriser les proches de leur parti, la ligue Awami, au détriment du reste de la population : « On soupçonne le pouvoir d’utiliser ce système de quotas pour favoriser des soutiens du parti », confirme Philippe Benoît.
Face à l’opposition dans la rue, la Cour suprême du Bangladesh a décidé, le 21 juillet, de revoir à la baisse ce quota à 5 %, contre 93 % de postes attribués au mérite et 2 % aux minorités ethniques, personnes transgenres et handicapés. En 2018, le gouvernement avait déjà abrogé le système des quotas à la suite de manifestations étudiantes massives. Mais cette fois-ci, la colère est trop forte chez les jeunes. Près de 18 millions d’entre eux sont au chômage dans un pays qui compte 170 millions d’habitants. "Le nombre de jeunes sans emploi est tel que les concours de l’administration attirent des foules de candidats. Outre la question des quotas, il y a la question de la corruption avec le soupçon récurrent qu’on réussit à ces concours si l’on achète sa place", ajoute l’universitaire Philippe Benoît. Pour les jeunes, le système des quotas est la goutte d’eau qui a fait déborder le vase : "Il ne s'agit plus seulement de quotas d'emplois", a déclaré à l'AFP Sakhawat, une jeune manifestante rencontrée à Dacca. "Nous voulons que les futures générations puissent vivre librement".
Une transition politique en suspens
Avec la fuite de la Première ministre, le pays s’engage désormais dans une transition politique incertaine. Le général Waker-Uz-Zaman, qui souhaite former un gouvernement intérimaire, a affirmé être entré en contact avec les principaux partis d'opposition et des membres de la société civile, mais pas avec la Ligue Awami dirigée par Sheikh Hasina. "Le parti au pouvoir semble condamné à disparaître quelque temps. Le problème, c’est que l’opposition politique bien organisée c’est le Parti nationaliste du Bangladesh (BNP), dont la présidente [Khaleda Zia] est [emprisonnée et] en mauvaise santé, et l’héritier en exil à l’étranger", rappelle Philippe Benoît de l’Inalco.
Lors des élections législatives de janvier dernier, le BNP avait d’ailleurs boycotté le scrutin, dénonçant "un simulacre d’élection" ainsi que des arrestations massives dans ses rangs. "Ce qui a eu lieu n’est pas une élection, mais plutôt une honte pour les aspirations démocratiques du Bangladesh", avait alors déclaré le chef du parti Tarique Rahman, depuis Londres où il vit en exil.
Quant à l’autre principale force d’opposition, le Jamaat-e-Islami (grand parti islamiste du pays), il a récemment été interdit par le gouvernement de Sheikh Hasina, tout comme sa branche étudiante, le Shibir, après les émeutes meurtrières de juillet. "Le plus probable, c’est qu’on s’oriente vers la formation d’un gouvernement où les militaires, le BNP et le Jamaat se partageraient les postes," estime Philippe Benoît. Dans le passé, les deux partis d’opposition ont déjà formé des coalitions, mais encore faut-il que leurs responsables soient libres de leurs mouvements.
Ces dernières heures, le général Waker-Uz-Zaman a annoncé la libération immédiate de Khaleda Zia, tandis que le BNP a annoncé le retour imminent de son chef en exil, Tarique Rahman.
Translation
Revolts in Bangladesh: reasons for anger
Article taken from the online newspaper ‘France24’ from its edition of 05/08/2024, written by Louis CHAHUNEAU
After a month of riots in Bangladesh, demonstrators obtained the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, ousted from power by a protest movement of unprecedented violence since the country's independence in 1971. Beyond youth unemployment, the Iron Lady of Bangladesh has paid the costs of a political opposition that has been muzzled for 15 years.
She had been in office for fifteen years. Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled to India on Monday August 5, before anti-government protesters stormed her palace in Dhaka. "She fled the country, she fled", they chanted before entering the residence grounds and leaving with televisions, chairs and tables.
After a month of demonstrations against the reform of quotas in the public service, the riots caused the death of at least 91 people on Sunday, including 13 police officers, the worst toll since the start of the student protest. On Monday, at least 56 people died. The students had called for a big march, despite the curfew imposed by the authorities, who had also announced three days of leave at the national level starting Monday.
"The country is currently going through a period of revolution", General Waker-Uz-Zaman, the army chief, who took office on June 23, said in a televised address on Monday. The officer also appealed for calm: "Please do not return to the path of violence, return to non-violent and peaceful ways".
Since July, the death toll has risen to 300. "This increase in violence is perhaps explained by the fact that the most politically motivated demonstrators felt that power was going to totter", explains Philippe Benoît, lecturer at the National Institute of Oriental Languages and Civilizations (Inalco) and Bangladesh specialist.
Public jobs in high demand
The crisis broke out last July with anti-government demonstrations at the initiative of a student group, "Students against discrimination" ("Students against discrimination"), which protested against the reinstatement in June of quotas in the public service, deemed discriminating.
« It is not the government strictly speaking, but a court decision which restored the » quotas, recalls Philippe Benoît. On June 5, the country's High Court ordered the government to restore the 30% quota of government jobs reserved for relatives of the « Freedom fighters » (freedom fighters, Editor's note), these soldiers who fought against Pakistan for the country's independence in 1971. Introduced in 1972 by the father of the resigning Prime Minister, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the quotas are accused of benefiting the supporters the party's, the Awami league, to the detriment of the rest of the population: « We suspect the power to use this system quotas to favour supporters of the » party, confirms Philippe Benoît.
Faced with opposition in the streets, the Supreme Court of Bangladesh decided, on July 21, to lower this quota to 5%, compared to 93% of positions attributed to merit and 2% to ethnic minorities, transgender people and disabled. In 2018, the government had already repealed the quota system following massive student protests. Nevertheless, this time, the anger is too strong among the young people. Nearly 18 million of them are unemployed in a country with 170 million people. "The number of unemployed young people is such that the selection competition in the administration attracts crowds of candidates. In addition to the question of quotas, there is the question of corruption with the recurring suspicion that one succeeds in these competitions if one buys one's place", adds academic Philippe Benoît. For young people, the quota system is the straw that broke the camel's back: "It's no longer just about job quotas", Sakhawat, a young female demonstrator in Dhaka, told AFP. "We want future generations to be able to live freely", she added.
A political transition in suspense
With the flight of the Prime Minister, the country is now embarking on an uncertain political transition. General Waker-Uz-Zaman, who wants to form an interim government, said he had contacted the main opposition parties and members of civil society, but not the Awami League led by Sheikh Hasina. "The ruling party seems doomed to disappear for some time. The problem is that the well-organized political opposition is the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), whose president [Khaleda Zia] is [imprisoned and] in poor health, and the heir in exile abroad", recalls Philippe Benoît of Inalco.
During the legislative elections last January, the BNP boycotted the vote, denouncing "a mock election" as well as massive arrests in its ranks. "What took place is not an election, but rather a shame for the democratic aspirations of Bangladesh", declared party leader Tarique Rahman from London where he lives in exile.
As for the other main opposition force, Jamaat-e-Islami (the country's major Islamist party), it was recently banned by Sheikh Hasina's government, as was its student wing, Shibir, after the deadly riots from July. "The most likely thing is that we are moving towards the formation of a government where the military, the BNP and the Jamaat would share positions," believes Philippe Benoît. In the past, the two opposition parties have already formed coalitions, but their leaders still to be free to move.
In recent hours, General Waker-Uz-Zaman announced the immediate release of Khaleda Zia, while the BNP announced the imminent return of its exiled leader, Tarique Rahman.
Analysis
The translation of Article 10 from French to English effectively conveys the core events and issues of the student protests in Bangladesh. The term "révoltes au Bangladesh" is accurately translated as "revolts in Bangladesh," capturing the intensity of the demonstrations. The phrase "les raisons de la colère" is rendered as "reasons for anger," which appropriately conveys the underlying causes of the unrest.
The translation clearly communicates key details, such as the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the violence associated with the protests. The translation of "les manifestants ont obtenu la démission de la Première ministre" as "demonstrators obtained the resignation of Prime Minister" captures the outcome of the protests effectively. The description of Hasina fleeing to India before the protesters stormed her palace is well-translated, maintaining the dramatic narrative of the event.
However, there are some challenge while choosing the right terms. For example, "les émeutes ont provoqué dimanche la mort d’au moins 91 personnes" is translated as "the riots caused the death of at least 91 people," which accurately reflects the original text. Yet, the translation of "les étudiants avaient appelé à une grande marche" as "the students had called for a big march" is tuned with the movement language in English speaking countries.
The translation of "le général Waker-Uz-Zaman, le chef de l’armée" as "General Waker-Uz-Zaman, the army chief" is correct, though providing additional context about his recent appointment could enhance the reader's understanding. The phrase "un regain de violences" is translated as "an increase in violence," which effectively captures the escalation described in the article.
The term "la réinstauration en juin de quotas dans la fonction publique" is translated as "the reinstatement in June of quotas in the public service," accurately reflecting the policy change that sparked the protests. However, the translation of "les quotas sont accusés de favoriser les proches de leur parti" as "the quotas are accused of benefiting the party's supporters" sounds for me, more clear.
The description of the political transition and the roles of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami is well-translated. The phrase "un gouvernement où les militaires, le BNP et le Jamaat se partageraient les postes" is rendered as "a government where the military, the BNP, and the Jamaat would share positions," which accurately reflects the potential political scenario described.
The research aimed to establish how successful the English translations were in terms of sustaining the tone, meaning, and context of these original French articles. Results show that this translated text has been able to preserve these elements for the most part, although, at certain places, the challenges did detract from the overall fidelity and richness of the translated texts.
Overall, the translations have managed to maintain almost the same tone evident in their source articles, an aspect critical in communicating the desired emotional and rhetorical resonance. Formal and urgent tones-in many cases, concerning discourse on socio-political issues and economic policies-were reflected quite well. However, in some translations, the tone was somewhat diluted from that of the original. There was frequent dilution when striving for clarity or adapting complex French expressions into more accessible English phrases. Such an approach made the texts more accessible to readers, but it sometimes reduced the intensity and nuance of the original tone.
In the translation process, the meaning of the original text has been tried to be preserved as far as possible. Generally, core meanings were conveyed quite well, and an attempt was made to translate important concepts and terminologies accurately. However, there were places where either technical details or socio-economic implications were simplified or lost. Examples include terminologies and references that are specific to the context, which have been adapted more or less to suit the understanding of the English-speaking audience. While this adaptation enhanced readability, it occasionally resulted in a loss of depth and precision, impacting the richness of the original content.
The contextual preservation will be very important in representing the various cultural, social, and political backgrounds of these articles. Translations did quite well in portraying the general context-namely, an important socio-economic and environmental context. However, the cultural and political contexts particular to the French setting and context were less stressed or adjusted towards the general international context. While this adjustment may often meet the requirements of broader accessibility, a loss in the specificity and depth of the original context occurred.
Several translation theories significantly influenced the translation process and outcomes:
Conclusion
In conclusion, the English translations of the French articles have generally succeeded in preserving the tone, meaning, and context of the originals. The application of translation theories facilitated this process, helping to balance fidelity with readability and contextual relevance. However, challenges remain, particularly in maintaining the depth of technical details and specific cultural contexts. These issues underscore the complexities of translation and highlight the ongoing need for a nuanced approach that considers both source and target language elements. While translations are effective in conveying the essential messages and tone, there is room for improvement in addressing the nuances and context-specific details.
Recommendations for Further Improvements
The following proposals may help in increasing the quality and fidelity of such translations from French articles into English:
References
Introduction: Unit 16 Supporting Positive Behaviour in Adult Health and Social Care Health and social care is a complex network...View and Download
Exploring Research in Psychology Assignment Sample: Quantitative and Qualitative Methodologies Explained This assignment sample...View and Download
Introduction Get free samples written by our Top-Notch subject experts for taking online Assignment...View and Download
A. Introduction Get ahead in your academic journey with Rapid Assignment Help, your trusted provider of exceptional Assignment...View and Download
Introduction - FY006 Digital Media Simplify your studies with Rapid Assignment Help’s easy-to-access, personalized...View and Download
Introduction: Visual Studio Game - Find Sea Animals Get free samples written by our Top-Notch subject experts for...View and Download
Copyright 2025 @ Rapid Assignment Help Services
