How India’s majoritarian politics drive its lazy and dismissive commentary on Bangladesh

With the breathing space after the first few days of the tumultuous political events that resulted in Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fleeing the country on August 5, Bangladeshis began looking at what the world was saying about the momentous events in their country. And what they have seen, heard and read in the media of their closest neighbour has been disquieting.

Indians, who played a big role in helping them win their independence, have not just been unsupportive about a protest movement but also expressed their disapproval of the protests against the autocratic Awami League government in myriad forms. While the Indian government has been muted in its comments, the dominant strategic commentary and analysis has been contemptuous and dismissive of the movement to restore democracy.

Bangladeshis have taken to social media to express their outrage about attitudes in India, describing the commentary as ill-informed and the response of both mainstream and social media as vitriolic. They have very good reason for their anger.

Bangladesh, like most other neighbouring countries, scarcely features in the Indian media (with rare exceptions). The country appears, if at all, in copious coverage of bilateral issues and high-level political visits or during times of turbulence – political and natural – most...

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