VOA survey: Why some Bangladeshis dislike India
A recent Voice of America (VOA) Bangla survey has revealed mixed sentiments among Bangladeshis toward neighboring India. While 53.6% of respondents expressed favorable views of India, 41.3% held negative perceptions.
Key findings
India vs. Pakistan
Pakistan slightly outperformed India in approval ratings, with 59% of respondents expressing favorable opinions of Pakistan compared to 53.6% for India. Notably, the unfavorable ratings for India were significantly higher at 41.3%, compared to Pakistan’s 28.5%.
Myanmar's Poor Ratings
Myanmar emerged as the least favored neighbor, with 59.1% disapproval, likely driven by the ongoing Rohingya crisis.
Global perspectives
Among global powers, the U.S. scored highest on the “like” scale, with 68.4%, followed by China (66%), Russia (64%), and the UK (62.7%).
Demographic insights
Religion: Among Muslim respondents, 44.2% disliked India, while only 4.2% of non-Muslims (Hindus, Christians, and Buddhists) expressed similar views. Conversely, 90.1% of non-Muslims viewed Pakistan favorably.
Age: Younger respondents (18–34 years old) showed stronger favorability toward Pakistan (62.1%) than India (47.8%). Older respondents (35+ years) leaned toward India, with 59.8% approval compared to 55.7% for Pakistan.
Gender: Women displayed slightly more favorability toward India (55.3%) compared to men (52%). However, men were more inclined to view Pakistan positively (64.4%) than women (53.2%).
Urban vs Rural: Urban respondents were less favorable toward India (50.4%) compared to rural respondents (54.7%), but urbanites expressed higher approval of Pakistan (63.9%) than rural respondents (57.3%).
Sources of discontent
India’s political role in Bangladesh
India’s perceived involvement in Bangladesh’s domestic politics remains a sore point. Many Bangladeshis believe that India’s support for the Awami League has fueled resentment.
Since the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government on August 5, anti-India sentiments have intensified. In a September 5 interview with Press Trust of India, interim leader Dr. Muhammad Yunus criticized India’s reliance on the Awami League and its narrative that stability in Bangladesh hinges solely on Hasina’s leadership.
“India must abandon the narrative that only Hasina ensures stability. Bangladesh deserves to be treated as a sovereign neighbor,” Yunus remarked.
He also dismissed India’s concerns about attacks on Hindu minorities in Bangladesh as “exaggerated excuses to justify interventionist policies.”
Border killings
The frequent border shootings by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) exacerbate negative perceptions. The 2011 killing of Felani Khatun remains a symbol of this issue. Between 2017 and 2022, 164 Bangladeshis were reportedly killed at the border, further straining relations.
Water disputes
The lack of progress on the Teesta River water-sharing agreement is another major issue. Despite sharing 54 rivers, only one formal water-sharing deal exists (on the Ganges). Negotiations on the Teesta agreement have been stalled due to opposition from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Political statements
Remarks by Indian officials, such as Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent comments threatening to hang Bangladeshi “infiltrators,” have been strongly condemned by Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry, further inflaming tensions.
Improving relations with Pakistan
In contrast, Bangladesh’s relations with Pakistan have shown significant improvement under the interim government. Dr. Yunus has avoided past demands for Pakistan to apologize for 1971 war atrocities, focusing instead on practical ties.
Recent developments include:
Visa Waivers: Pakistan announced visa-free travel for citizens of 122 countries, including Bangladesh.
Trade Resumption: A Pakistani cargo ship docked in Bangladesh for the first time since 2018.
