53.6% of Bangladeshis Like India, 41.3% Don’t: Voice of America Survey

A recent opinion poll by Voice of America (Bengali) shows that 53.6% of Bangladeshis view India favorably, while 41.3% have a negative perception. The survey, conducted with 1,000 participants, asked respondents to rate countries on a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 and 2 indicated 'like,' and 4 and 5 indicated 'dislike.' The poll revealed a stark comparison between India and Pakistan. Pakistan received a higher 'like' rating of 59%, with only 28.5% expressing dislike—a significantly lower disapproval rate than India. Myanmar emerged as the most disliked neighboring country, with 59.1% of respondents expressing disapproval. This sentiment is closely tied to the ongoing Rohingya crisis, which has seen over a million refugees seek asylum in Bangladesh. Globally, the United States ranked highest in favorability, with 68.4% 'like' ratings, followed by China (66%), Russia (64%), and the UK (62.7%). These findings reflect Bangladesh's nuanced perspectives on its neighbors and international partners.