Reimagining Bangladesh-India Relations: Building bridges beyond borders

• By fostering a sincere dialogue and appreciating each other’s cultural and religious identities, the two neighbors can unlock the true potential of their historic bond

• Only through such efforts can the dream of a stable, prosperous, and harmonious relationship be realized

 PRAVASISAMWAD.COM

The relationship between Bangladesh and India has always been deep and multifaceted. As Prof. Muhammad Yunus aptly remarked, “We can have our differences, but they cannot define our bond.” This sentiment underlines the need for a “win-win” approach rooted in mutual respect, non-hegemony, and shared prosperity. Despite these ideals, recent developments reveal cracks in this relationship, amplified by the Indian media’s often selective and biased coverage of events in Bangladesh, reported thedailystar.net.

The Media’s Role in Shaping Perceptions

The student-led uprising in Bangladesh during July-August 2024, which toppled Sheikh Hasina’s regime, marked a significant turning point. However, Indian media coverage largely ignored the massive scale of the movement, focusing instead on isolated incidents of communal violence. This selective reportage failed to highlight key issues such as the atrocities inflicted on students and civilians, including the government’s shocking use of helicopters to fire on demonstrators.

Journalists visiting Bangladesh during the transition period chose to center their narratives on attacks against Hindus, sidelining broader human rights abuses. This narrow focus not only eroded their credibility among Bangladeshi readers but also hindered a nuanced understanding of the events.

Towards a Sustainable Relationship

• For a durable Bangladesh-India relationship, a paradigm shift is essential

• Both nations must move beyond regime-based ties to cultivate people-based relationships built on mutual respect and understanding

• Indian media and political leadership must shed their biases and embrace Bangladesh as it is, rather than imposing their own narratives

Regime vs. People-Centric Narratives

India’s approach to Bangladesh, both in media and political discourse, often appears regime-centric rather than people-focused. This has created a perception that India prioritizes maintaining favorable governments over fostering genuine people-to-people connections. As evidenced by coverage claiming foreign conspiracies behind the uprising or branding the movement as “anti-India,” the Indian media often disregards the agency and aspirations of the Bangladeshi people.

Islamophobia and Misrepresentation

A pervasive strain of Islamophobia in Indian media further complicates this relationship. Coverage frequently portrays Bangladesh’s Islamic identity as extremist, ignoring the deep cultural and religious roots of Islam in the region. Comparisons with India’s own embrace of Hindu cultural revival reveal a double standard. If India can celebrate its Hindu heritage, why should Bangladesh’s assertion of its Islamic identity be viewed as fundamentalist?

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