19 October 2020, NIICE Commentary 6302
Md. Shariful Islam
The contemporary nature and scope in Bangladesh-India relations can be defined as ‘role model’ for other countries and regions. The partnership has expanded from traditional political and diplomatic relations to development. In this process, state actors, non-state actors, including the media, has played an essential role. The role of the media in Bangladesh-India relations dates back to the 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh. In fact, the Indian press played a crucial role to create public opinion at home and abroad in favour of Bangladesh’s independence. However, in later days, there has been ups and downs. Moreover, the scholarships on Bangladesh-India relations has been dominated by the state-centric analysis sidelining the role of the media.
The role of the media becomes vital for two specific reasons – its reach and its credibility. Media can play an essential role in highlighting the immense potentials, challenges, and policy imperatives in Bangladesh-India relations. But, ironically, Bangladesh is poorly covered in the Indian media. Instead of positive news, negative stories on Bangladesh are dominating. It is argued that though Bangladesh is a close neighbour, its concerns are hardly covered in the Indian media. For instance, the construction of the Farakka barrage by India and its negative consequences on Bangladesh is not adequately addressed in the Indian media. In addition, water-sharing issues, border killing, trade imbalance, maritime boundary disputes are barely raised. But during the conversation, on the role of media in strengthening relations between Bangladesh and India’, Indian journalists recognises Bangladesh’s contributions to addressing India’s security concerns and admits India’s failure to reciprocate. They also acknowledge that Indian media failed to positively portray the opportunities created and opened up by Bangladesh. Mahfuz Anam, the editor and publisher of the Daily Star, states that ‘As a media person, I have never been able to understand the indifference of the Indian media towards Bangladesh’s issues, especially those affecting bilateral relations’.
Some media reports in India have created discomforts in Bangladesh. For instance, against the backdrop of China’s zero-tariff announcement for the 97 per cent of Bangladeshi products in the Chinese market, in June 2020, the Anada Bazar Patrika, a leading Bengali daily in India, described it as ‘Khoyraati’ (charity) to Bangladesh which was responded critically by Bangladesh. The Times of India reports that against the backdrop of India-China clash at Galwan Valley in Ladakh, ‘Beijing seems to be aggressively wooing Bangladesh, a strong ally of India in the neighbourhood, with a host of sops’. In addition, the Hind ran a story which is also discussed critically in Bangladesh. Bangladesh Foreign Minister, Abdul Momen points out that Indian media reports highlighting the Bangladesh-China trade relations in a demeaning manner is ‘unacceptable’. Later, the Anada Bazar Patrika apologized for the news.
During COVID-19 global pandemic, while some media portals based in Northeast India spread misinformation about the reduction of warmth in Bangladesh-India relations, Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen describes Bangladesh-India ties as ‘blood relationship’, ‘rock solid’ while India described its relations with Bangladesh as ‘exceptionally close’. Echoing the warm sentiments, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar claims that ‘very few countries in the world share such close fraternal ties as those of ours…our partnership today stands out as a role model in the region for good neighbourly relations’. The role of Indian media in Bangladesh-India relations has been described critically by many in Bangladesh. For instance, Shahab Enam Khan contends that ‘It has always been quite distressing to see the reactions of Indian media regarding Bangladesh, in any matter, be it economy, military, politics, or cricket. The Indian media, often regarded as a wild propaganda machine, has kept on attempting to stain the sovereign entity called Bangladesh’.
One can also find some positive examples of constructive engagement of the Indian print media. In fact, Bangladesh received better attention in the Indian print media coverage particularly after Sheikh Hasina came to power in 2009, though the coverage was limited largely with the official visits of the heads of states. The Indian Express, in its editorial, defines Sheikh Hasina’s 1996-2001 tenure as the ‘best bilateral relations’ with India and, thus, expects better Bangladesh-India relations under Sheikh Hasina regime. The editorial shows the importance of Bangladesh for India’s economy and energy security and identifies Bangladesh as the ‘best maritime gateway for India’s Northeast’. The geostrategic significance of Bangladesh to India is also reflected in the Hindu editorial.
After coming to power in 2009, the Sheikh Hasina government committed that the soil of Bangladesh will not be used for terrorist attacks in India. Thus, Bangladesh authorities arrested the ULFA Chief Aravinda Rajkhowa and his associates and handed over to India. This was widely and enthusiastically welcomed in the Indian media. Indian newspapers also urged their government to reciprocate Bangladesh’s contributions in addressing India’s security concerns.
Sheikh Hasina’s 2010 Delhi visit was widely covered by the Indian media. The importance of Bangladesh and the necessity of a sustainable developed Bangladesh-India partnership is emphasised in many editorials. For instance, On June 25, 2014, the Hindustan Times, in its editorial writes that ‘Bangladesh is crucial to India. Sheikh Hasina has been a good interlocutor for New Delhi. She has pushed for closer ties despite strong domestic opposition, cracked down on militant groups and signed an extradition treaty that helps track down North-East insurgents’. The Indian Express notes that ‘The Bangladesh PM’s unreserved cooperation on terrorism and a readiness to think out of the box have been key to constructing a genuine partnership between Delhi and Dhaka’. During Sheikh Hasina’s 2017 India visit, it is argued that ‘a stronger, stable and prosperous Bangladesh is in India’s long-term interests’ and ‘It is, therefore, imperative for India to strengthen the hands of an ally who has adopted a common stance on issues that are crucial for New Delhi, such as terrorism and regional diplomacy’ . The Hindu defines Bangladesh as India’s ‘key strategic partner in South Asia to promote growth and contain terrorism’ and suggests India to build relations not only with the government of Bangladesh but also with its people.
It is suggested that ‘For both geo-political and geo-economic reasons, India needs a stable, progressive and economically robust neighbour in Bangladesh’. The Hindustan Times, in its editorial suggests that ‘India must not let its domestic political discourse affect its most important relationship in its eastern neighbourhood; it must reach out to Ms Hasina and provide her with deliverables, which can enhance the domestic political space for her to pursue closer ties with India; it must deploy its soft power and attempt an image-correction. Bangladesh has been a steadfast ally. Don’t let it slip’. In its editorial, they describes India’s relations with Bangladesh as ‘India’s best regional partnership’ and thus suggests that ‘Delhi must allay Dhaka’s apprehensions on the NRC process’.
After examining the editorials written in the mainstream Indian print media, it is found that the issue of security cooperation, connectivity, and energy cooperation is emphasised in the Indian print media editorials. Until 2008, Indian media ran stories on Bangladesh that is primarily negative. Since 2009, due to the Sheikh Hasina government in power, there is a paradigm shift in Bangladesh-India relations, which is also reflected in the Indian print media. The visits of the heads of the states are adequately covered in the Indian print media through editorials and front-page stories. Indian print media ran a number of constructive editorials on Bangladesh-India relations as discussed earlier. The importance of Bangladesh for India’s long term interest in the context of security, economic and socio-cultural dimension is emphasised on the editorials. Thus, in the editorials, published in the Indian print media, it is argued that India cannot afford to lose its partnership with Bangladesh. Consequently, the editorials suggest that India needs to deepen its relations with Bangladesh based on win-win situation and reciprocity for the well-being of the people of both India and Bangladesh. Despite such constructive editorial coverage in the Indian print media, one can argue that Bangladesh and its concerns merit much more attention than it is usually received.
However, the Indian media needs to play a more active role in addressing the core concerns of Bangladesh as well, such as water sharing issue, border killing, NRC issue, trade imbalance and others. There is a need of more editorials, open-editorials and front-page stories reflecting Bangladesh’s contributions in addressing India’s concerns, such as the security concerns, connectivity issue with India’s Northeastern states, and others. The geostrategic importance of Bangladesh, the importance of the emerging development partnership between Bangladesh and India, the possibilities in cross-border connectivity, deepening people-to-people contacts are important issues which need to be widely covered by the Indian media.
