Indian media spins Bangladesh slowdown to mask corruption under Sheikh Hasina
Dhaka: Indian mainstream media has launched a wave of propaganda portraying Bangladesh’s economy as being in “free fall” under the current Muhammad Yunus-led government. Reports exaggerating a temporary slowdown have been framed as a “poverty crisis,” while concealing years of economic mismanagement and hidden financial risks under Sheikh Hasina’s regime.
According to Kashmir Media Service, analysts say the short-term slowdown is a deliberate fiscal correction. Bangladesh’s GDP grew 3.5% in 2020, 6.9% in 2021, and 7.1% in 2022, but the Sheikh Hasina government left behind a banking system riddled with hidden bad loans and politically linked borrowing. The sudden jump in non-performing loans—from over 20% to more than 35%—reflects transparency measures under Yunus, revealing previously concealed financial risks rather than new economic trouble.
“For years, the previous regime manipulated data, relaxed banking rules, and rescheduled loans to cronies, giving a false picture of economic health,” said a local economist. “The current government’s tightening of spending and improved loan quality is a normal adjustment, not a collapse.”
Observers noted that Indian commentary selectively ignores this context, pushing misleading narratives to undermine Bangladesh’s achievements and influence political outcomes. Under Yunus, lending has decreased but the quality of loans has strengthened, signalling a shift toward sustainable growth rather than artificial credit expansion.
“This is a correction after years of artificially boosted credit, massive politically linked borrowing, and hidden risks,” the economist added. “No economy can thrive on a house of bad loans. The current slowdown is part of restoring balance and long-term stability, not a signal of failure.”
