Shifting Narratives: Russia’s Image in South Asian Media in 2022–2024 (by the Example of the Mass Media in People’s Republic of Bangladesh)

This study examines how the perception of Russia changed in South Asia especially in Bangladeshi media both before and after the start of the Special Military Operation in February 2022. The research looks at major themes and changes in how Russia is portrayed by comparing the content of news stories, editorials, and op-eds in major Bangladeshi newspapers published in Bengali and English. The People's Republic of Bangladesh is a mono-ethnic state, 98% of whose population are Bengalis, who recognize the value of their strategic alliance with Russia, a country that has supported them during difficult times in their history, despite criticism from a number of other countries. The results show a notable shift in media portrayals driven by international and internal political events, such as the overthrow of Sheikh Hasina's administration in August 2024. The study sheds light on how internal politics and foreign conflicts influence media narratives and public opinion, providing essential insights into the interaction between Bangladeshi national media discourses and global geopolitics. By means of qualitative content analysis the authors also examine how leading Bangladeshi newspapers have portrayed Russia's image during three distinct periods: Pre-SMO (December 2021 — January 2022), Early stage SMO (February 2022 — March 2022), and the period following the Government Change in Bangladesh (July 2024 — August 2024). The analysis covers leading publications such as Daily Prothom Alo, Daily Janakantha, Daily Bhorer Kagoj, Daily Jugantor, Bangladesh Observer and several others. The study also draws on other materials and news stories to systematically analyze the ideological positions of modern media and identify the dependence of publications on various sponsorships.