Critical Discourse Analysis of Chants during Ouster of Prime Minister of Bangladesh: A Systemic Functional Linguistic Perspective

Abstract

This article aims to critically investigate the role of protest chants during the 2024 ouster of Prime Minister of Bangladesh, using Halliday's Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) as an analytical framework within the larger context of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA). Chants as a powerful tool for mobilization, comprises socio-political tensions, unity and resistance against power. This study delves into the linguistic features that create an influential impact on the public by examining chants and a song of resistance ‘Awaz Utha’ using ideational, interpersonal, and textual metafunctions of SFL. The study is based on Qualitative methodology and advances the discipline of CDA by uncovering the complex meanings of protest discourse. The results explore how the chants act as a powerful agent to disperse ideas of freedom and describe the sketch of political ideologies. It also shed light on the protest movements in socio-political contexts and the role of language in shaping political and social resistance and collective identities in Bangladesh. This perspective is crucial in highlighting the role of language in amplifying marginalized voices and the interplay of language, power and resistance in the protestants demands.