Russia accuses Bangladesh media of 'bias' on Ukraine war coverage

[Black_cats]

Russia accuses Bangladesh media of 'bias' on Ukraine war coverage​

By Arafatul Islam| 15.03.2022

In an open letter, the Russian embassy in Dhaka has accused newspapers and broadcasters of "undermining" relations between Russia and Bangladesh.

In an open letter sent to Bangladeshi media editors on Sunday, Alexander Mantytskiy, the Russian ambassador to Dhaka, claimed that Bangladeshi media outlets were echoing "anti-Russian propaganda" from Western media motivated by "bias, prejudice and even hatred towards Russia."

The four-page letter, which the ambassador signed, outlined the Russian government's perspective on the Ukraine war. He claimed that the current stance of Bangladeshi media outlets on the war was part of an ongoing effort by the West to distance Moscow and Dhaka. The letter did not name any specific media outlets, or cite examples of biased coverage.

"I consider the biased approach of certain Bangladeshi media towards the situation in Ukraine, and Russia's actions there, as a result of deliberate efforts by those forces that have always sought to undermine mutually beneficial cooperation between the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of Bangladesh," Ambassador Mantytskiy said.

The Russian embassy in Dhaka confirmed in an e-mail to DW that the ambassador had signed the letter.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1503225833258774528

'Unacceptable' interference​

Bangladeshi media professionals have defended their coverage of the war in Ukraine as fact-based and unbiased.

Golam Mortoza, the editor of the Dhaka-based Daily Star Bangla newspaper, emphasized that an ambassador of a foreign country should not tell Bangladeshi journalists how to do their jobs.

"The wording of the letter by the Russian ambassador sounds like he was prescribing what we should write or what sources we should use. Such dictation from an ambassador is unacceptable," he told DW.

Ali Riaz, a political science professor at Illinois State University focusing on South Asia, told DW that the letter makes dubious claims about the state of Bangladeshi media.

"Had the ambassador been referring to a particular report and provided information, it would have been a professional reaction," Riaz said.

"Bangladeshi media are providing critical analyses of the situation along with information provided by Western news sources," he said.

"Notwithstanding the general observation that media everywhere tend to have a proclivity towards agenda setting, various Bangladeshi media have published analyses from international media that have explored Russian arguments for the invasion," he added.

Moscow attempts to compare Bangladesh with Ukraine​

In the letter, Mantytskiy compared the intervention of the Soviet Union in Bangladesh's war of liberation in 1971 with Russia's current invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow claims is aimed at "liberating" the Russian-speaking population in the eastern Donbas region in a similar way Bangladesh fought for independence.

Analyst Riaz said comparing the 1971 war of independence in Bangladesh with the situation in Eastern Ukraine is highly problematic.

"The ambassador's reading of Bangladeshi history is skewed and erroneous. It omits the history of economic disparity between East and West Pakistan and the democratic process that legitimized the declaration of independence," Riaz said.

"Most importantly, it ignores the contributions of the freedom fighters who fought valiantly for months against the Pakistani occupation force. Moral and material support of India, the then USSR, and others have helped the freedom fighters. However, Bangladesh emerged as an independent country because of a war fought by its people," he added.

Editor Mortoza said the two events have no basis for comparison.

"Russia has invaded Ukraine ... Russia still has no right to attack and bomb an independent country and make millions of people homeless," he said.

Russia accuses Bangladeshi media of 'bias' on Ukraine war – DW – 03/15/2022

In an open letter, the Russian embassy in Dhaka has accused newspapers and broadcasters of "undermining" relations between Russia and Bangladesh.

m.dw.com

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[UKBengali]

I would hope that the BD government would make sure that the media in the country are reporting the war in a fair manner.

Here in the UK, it is pretty much all one-sided with Putin being made to look like another Hitler and Zelensky the new Mandela.

The reasons for this war are complex and although the Russians are no angels, they do have certain greivances that were never taken seriously by the West.

 

[Black_cats]

Bangladesh media accused of bias by Russia on Ukraine war coverage​

"How could you think we would accept your unjust invasion"

• Posted 19 March 2022
• Written by Rezwan

Image by Geralt by Pixabay. Used under a Pixabay License.
On Sunday, March 13, 2022, the Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander V. Mantytskiy accused Bangladesh newspapers and broadcasters of taking a “biased approach” in their coverage of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. He claimed that a section of Bangladeshi media was peddling “anti-Russian propaganda” from Western media.

Historically Bangladesh holds a good relationshipwith Russia. But after Russian soldiers marched into Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Bangladesh expressed grave concern and “urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint” and resolve the crisis diplomatically.

In the open letter to editors of print and electronic media, the heads of radio and TV broadcasters, the ambassador termed the media coverage as “deliberate efforts” to undermine Dhaka-Moscow relations. The letter was shared via the official Twitter account of the Embassy of Russia in Dhaka, Bangladesh:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1503225833258774528

The Ukraine crisis in Bangladesh media​

Although Ukraine is far from Bangladesh and normally far from its citizens’ minds, news about the war has been trickling into Bangladeshi media. During the first couple of weeks of the war, the media was occupied with news of stranded Bangladeshis in Ukraine and their evacuation. Of the 1,000 Bangladeshis stranded in Ukraine, around 900 crossed borders to Poland. India helped to evacuate 9 Bangladeshi students.

Gyanpreet Kaur from India tweeted:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1502473046023892994

On March 2, 2022, a Bangladeshi Sailor was killed when a missile struck “Banglar Samriddhi,” a Bangladeshi merchant vessel anchored at the Black Sea port of Olvia, Ukraine.

Defense Technology of Bangladesh, a community of Bangladesh defense-related information informed on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1499220988802011136

Bangladesh reached out to Russia through diplomatic channels to rescue the surviving 28 crew members of the ship, evacuate them to bordering Romania and abandoned the ship. It is unclear which side shot the missile but the Ukrainian navy accused Russia of using civilian vessels as human shields.

But even as the war rages, the soaring prices of edible oils, other food items, and the news of the rising inflation are dominating headlines, eclipsing the war coverage.

The general public is against the war and the sentiment was reflected on Social media. Actress Zahara Mitu wrote on Facebook:

ইশ্!! পৃথিবী থেকে যদি যুদ্ধ শব্দটাই মুছে যেতো। মহাযুদ্ধ, গৃহযুদ্ধ, মনের যুদ্ধ কোনোটাই আর না হতো……..
শান্তি আসুক ইউক্রেইন, রাশিয়ার মধ্যে

Only!! If only the word “war” had been erased from the face of the earth. World wars, civil wars, wars of the minds would cease to happen…
Let there be peace between Russia and Ukraine.

Bangladesh abstained​

On March 2, 2022, there was a vote on a resolution in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to reprimand Russia for invading Ukraine and demand the withdrawal of Russian forces. The resolution was supported by 141 of the UNGA's 193 members and Bangladesh abstained along with several South Asian countries.

Pakistani journalist Mubashir Zaidi tweeted:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1499068566955515905

The Bangladesh foreign minister defended the decision mentioning that the country is against war. Some commenters mentioned that Bangladesh's position is neutral and fairly balanced considering the history and the large infrastructure projects Russia is helping with, while some commented that its an anomaly.

Unwarranted media interference​

Some Bangladeshi media professionals disagreed with the Russian ambassador's claims and argued their coverage of the war in Ukraine was fact-based.

Golam Mortoza, the editor of the Daily Star newspaper (Bangla version), told German media Deutsche Welle (DW) that an ambassador of a foreign country should not dictate how Bangladeshi journalists do their job.

Ali Riaz, an educator at Illinois State University, mentioned to DW that the ambassador's reaction was unprofessional and his perceptions skewed.

In a Twitter message, Mohammad Ali Ahasan, a Global Conflict Specialist from Bangladesh, echoes the Russian ambassador and explained that the source of international news in Bangladesh is the international news wires, most of which are Western media.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1504201409855557632

However, Journalist Muktadir Rashid Romeo highlights columnist Kamal Ahmed's recent opedon Twitter:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1503585394654588930

Yeasin Arafat, a Bangladeshi Expat in Kuwait, commented on Facebook:

একাত্তরে সাহায্য করেছেন বলে, অন্যায় ভাবে বিদেশের উপর আগ্রাসন চালাবেন, আর এটা মেনে নেব এটা ভাবলেন কি করে।
আমি ব্যক্তিগত ভাবে এ আগ্রাসনের তীব্র নিন্দা জানাই, এক সময় আমরা নির্যাতিত হয়ে ছিলাম
এখন নির্যাতিত মানুষের পাশে আছি ভবিষ্যতে থাকবো যে দেশেই হোক না কেন।

How could you think that we would accept your unjust invasion of Ukraine, just because you helped us in 1971? I personally strongly condemn this aggression. Once we were oppressed, now I am happy to be by the side of the oppressed people, will also be in the future – no matter what the country.

Trade will continue​

As there is a significant trade ongoing between Russia and Bangladesh, the country is worried about how the Western sanctions against Russia will hurt its economy. According to the State Minister of Foreign Affairs, the trade relations between Bangladesh and Russia will continue, especially the 2.4-gigawatt nuclear power plant in Rooppur, being built by the Russian Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation.

Read More: Rooppur: Little Russia in Bangladesh​

Russia recently sent some components to the Rooppur plant by air and will continue to use this form of transport if the shipment by sea is deterred due to the sanctions.

In a recent development, Bangladesh suggestedto Moscow to use a barter system for payment to bypass the ongoing Swift ban against Russia.

Bangladesh media accused of bias by Russia on Ukraine war coverage · Global Voices

 

[Abu Shaleh Rumi]

LOL, somebody should remind mr ambassador that, Russians supported burma on Rohingya Genocide issue...

 

[StraightEdge]

BD would never have been independent without the then Soviet's help. The "Indo–Soviet Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation" treaty led Soviet to intervene when USS Enterprise of the Pacific 7th Fleet on Indian ocean. They also ensured China doesn't overtly assist Pakistan during that stage.

 

[UKBengali]

LOL, somebody should remind mr ambassador that, Russians supported burma on Rohingya Genocide issue...

Yes but two wrongs do not make a right.

Rohingya issue happened as BD government is made up of puss**s.

BD has an economy FIVE times that of Myanmar and should have been able to impose its will on Myanmar.

Don’t blame others when you have no self-respect and it is nearly 5 years after August 2017 and not even a contract for 4 + gen fighters has ever been signed yet.

It is in BD interest for the world to become multi-polar and being neutral in this war is the best thing to do as a totally defeated Russia will prolong Western hegemony.

 

[VikingRaider]

Bangladesh govt should make it open that before changing world order completely, we can't controll the bloody media who is basically under Western and Indian control.

Russian spies should look at YouTube where celebrity YouTubers ( anti govt ) are being abused by their own fans , because they took stance againsh Russia!

This is the pulse of common Bangladeshi.

They always prefer Sino - Russian side , instead of western ( and their foot soldier India ) side!

Because no one forget and will never forget what western ( mo fo so called democracy and human fuking rights agents) did to middle east.


Finally thanks to China for smashing those hypocrites.
( From golbal times)

Chinese FM hits back as West pressures China to choose sides in Ukraine crisis

When asked whether China's position on the Russian-Ukrainian conflict is awkward, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said China's position is as open, fair and objective as it has always been.

"Countries that believe they have won the Cold War so they can dominate the world, countries neglect others' concern and pushed for five rounds of NATO expansion and countries that have waged wars around the world but blamed others, should truly feel uncomfortable," Zhao said at a routine Foreign Ministry news conference on Thursday.

Regarding the issue in Ukraine, China has been calling on the international community to focus on "promoting peace and talks" and "preventing a large-scale humanitarian crisis," and has made a lot of efforts. China has put forward a six-point initiative to alleviate the current crisis in Ukraine and has taken practical actions.

Zhao said that he heard even cats, dogs, and trees in Russia are being sanctioned, along with Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake.

"Tchaikovsky is a famous composer who died more than 100 years ago. What is his crime?" Zhao asked. "Swan Lake is a world masterpiece. What is its crime?"

Zhao Lijian noted that China's position on the peace talks has been consistent. "You can check China's previous statements on hotspot issues related to Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, and Palestine."

However, the US and NATO's position is clearly hypocritical, especially when associated with the racist tendencies that drip from some Western media reports, Zhao said.

"Were you similarly so concerned about the casualties of the Iraqi, Syrian, Afghan and Palestinian people in the past? Did they mean nothing to you?" Zhao asked. "Did you care nothing about these civilian casualties in Yugoslavia in 1999?"

The spokesperson said that China firmly rejects US State Secretary Antony Blinken's comment that China's unwillingness to condemn Russia is inconsistent with China's position on the UN charter.

"The remarks are a smear against China, fully revealing its Cold War mentality and group confrontation ideology of the US, and such remarks are not helpful to solving the problem."

Zhao stressed that as a responsible power, China will continue to play a constructive role in maintaining world peace and stability.

Global Times

Chinese FM hits back as West pressures China to choose sides in Ukraine crisis - Global Times

www.globaltimes.cn

 

[BlindEagle]

the west baited ukraine into a war sure but the Russians have committed questionable acts and war crimes. 109 kids dead at maternity hospital. Over 1500 civilians killed in mauripol a Russian ethnic region… these are not excusable and if our media is highlighting this and Russia is displeased with that I can only tell the Russians иди нахуй

 

[Turingsage]

BD would never have been independent without the then Soviet's help. The "Indo–Soviet Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation" treaty led Soviet to intervene when USS Enterprise of the Pacific 7th Fleet on Indian ocean. They also ensured China doesn't overtly assist Pakistan during that stage.

That was the SOVIET UNION. A communist country. Russia is run by a ex-KGB thug who is deeply Christian as part of the Russian Orthodox Church and supported by a MAFIA of Oligarchs who stripped the SOVIET UNION of all its assets for literally peanuts. Russia's kleptocracy is now turning expansionist.

Russia has Salami sliced Ukraine by first invading Crimea and when Luhansk and Doniestz. Now he says Ukraine was never a country and its ALL part of Russia.

Those Bangladeshis should ponder if India decided Bangladesh was created from India and is now no longer a country but was always a part of India.

Countries can use this justification to swallow up many different countries if this is allowed to pass.

 

[Abu Shaleh Rumi]

That was the SOVIET UNION. A communist country. Russia is run by a ex-KGB thug who is deeply Christian as part of the Russian Orthodox Church and supported by a MAFIA of Oligarchs who stripped the SOVIET UNION of all its assets for literally peanuts. Russia's kleptocracy is now turning expansionist.

Russia has Salami sliced Ukraine by first invading Crimea and when Luhansk and Doniestz. Now he says Ukraine was never a country and its ALL part of Russia.

Those Bangladeshis should ponder if India decided Bangladesh was created from India and is now no longer a country but was always a part of India.

Countries can use this justification to swallow up many different countries if this is allowed to pass.

Totally agree with you man...

Russian excuses for invading Ukraine is simply laughable nonsense! Russia has Nuke triad ditterance even mighty USA with its NATO squad will not dare to touch Russian territory...

 

[UKBengali]

That was the SOVIET UNION. A communist country. Russia is run by a ex-KGB thug who is deeply Christian as part of the Russian Orthodox Church and supported by a MAFIA of Oligarchs who stripped the SOVIET UNION of all its assets for literally peanuts. Russia's kleptocracy is now turning expansionist.

Russia has Salami sliced Ukraine by first invading Crimea and when Luhansk and Doniestz. Now he says Ukraine was never a country and its ALL part of Russia.

Those Bangladeshis should ponder if India decided Bangladesh was created from India and is now no longer a country but was always a part of India.

Countries can use this justification to swallow up many different countries if this is allowed to pass.

Yes but Russia was the leading nation in there.

India has no ability to invade and hold onto BD and so your point is moot there.

BD needs to keep a balanced approach and make sure that it does not fall into the trap of demonising the Russians unfairly as there are two sides to every story.

BD interest lies in Russia not being totally defeated and humiliated here and the same for India.

PS - Unlike Ukraine BD is not a small nation with a population of 165 million. If it can successfully develop itself over the next 2-3 decades then it can become a not insignificant player in the globe.

 

[mmr]

That was the SOVIET UNION. A communist country. Russia is run by a ex-KGB thug who is deeply Christian as part of the Russian Orthodox Church and supported by a MAFIA of Oligarchs who stripped the SOVIET UNION of all its assets for literally peanuts. Russia's kleptocracy is now turning expansionist.

Russia has Salami sliced Ukraine by first invading Crimea and when Luhansk and Doniestz. Now he says Ukraine was never a country and its ALL part of Russia.

Those Bangladeshis should ponder if India decided Bangladesh was created from India and is now no longer a country but was always a part of India.

Countries can use this justification to swallow up many different countries if this is allowed to pass.

India can defiantly use same excuses to do serious damage to bd. But Why indian will do that?

ur troops killed too many ppl at bd border. no where these many ppl shot dead at the border. and yet bd govt dont dare to do anything other then just make lame statements.

not to mention billions of trade deficit, tourist money and smuggling that drain bd to india.

bottom line might is right is back in global politics and india already do that to bd in every way possible.

thats why i said long time ago to pakistani friend when he told me bd is doing better. i told ya but u guys have nuclear weapons. no one will ever mess with u guys.

 

[VikingRaider]

Those Bangladeshis should ponder if India decided Bangladesh was created from India and is now no longer a country but was always a part of India

India can't use the same excuse. Let me explain why!


Firstly Bangladesh wasn't created from India, but from Pakistan.

Secondly the region India existed long before India became a single country. It always was a subcontinent. You can it as another Africa inside Asia ; with smaller land mass and bigger number of population.

Thirdly now read Indian independent act. United Kingdom can claim both India and Pakistan as their part again after 99 years from 1947 ( we don't have any treaty with anyone as we were born as a new country Bangladesh in 1971 and are recognised by all countries) , what you will do? Simply you will fight and protect yourselves right?

Same if India consider Bangladesh as a threat to its sovereignty ( as Russia claimed against Ukraine; although case is different as Bangladesh isn't going to be part of a anti Sino - Russiam military alliance , which was once created to neutralised Soviet ; but even after Soviet NATO is expanding with a sinister agenda!) , so India doesn't have the logic to invade Bangladesh.

However even if you invade Bangladesh, you will face the worst consequences. You will learn why Bangladesh is called defense heaven.

Finally India is not nearly as powerful as you guys pretend!

 

[StraightEdge]

That was the SOVIET UNION. A communist country. Russia is run by a ex-KGB thug who is deeply Christian as part of the Russian Orthodox Church and supported by a MAFIA of Oligarchs who stripped the SOVIET UNION of all its assets for literally peanuts. Russia's kleptocracy is now turning expansionist.

Russia has Salami sliced Ukraine by first invading Crimea and when Luhansk and Doniestz. Now he says Ukraine was never a country and its ALL part of Russia.

Those Bangladeshis should ponder if India decided Bangladesh was created from India and is now no longer a country but was always a part of India.

Countries can use this justification to swallow up many different countries if this is allowed to pass.

Wrong on many counts, you need to read history pages better.
Oligarchs came into picture during Boris Yeltsin rule. When the west advised Yeltsin to privatise the ex-Soviet economy and industries, it was then the Oligarchs were really created. It was actually putin who put some fear of God on these oligarchs. It was Boris Yeltsin who bombed/shelled their parliament with tanks. I don't know any president who does that to their own parliament building. US supported that. Whom should you call thug?

Crimea was actually a gift from USSR to Ukraine in 1954 as a token of 'friendship' . Crimea always belonged to Russia, for few hundred years. Russia just took back what was their when Ukraine stopped treating Russia as their friend.

Luhansk and Doniestz are pro-Russian regions. People speak Russian and generally have pro-Russian views. Ukraine and Azov have been killing and shelling both these regions for years now.

Casualties of the war in Donbass, the first three years, per UN: “From 14 April 2014 to 15 November 2017, at least 2,523 civilians were killed: 1,399 men, 837 women, 91 boys, 47 girls and 149 adults whose sex is unknown.

This is ex-president of Ukraine talking about Donbass.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1497097389521342464

The pro-nazi extreme right wing issue in Ukraine have been going on for sometime now.

How a White-Supremacist Militia Uses Facebook to Radicalize and Train New Members

This Ukrainian militant group’s use of social media has been key to their international growth

time.com

When USSR dissolved, NATO promised not to 'move east'. But they themselves broke that promise multiple times.
Check the number of new NATO members, now they are at door step of Russia. Europe is getting what it deserved, nothing less or more.

 

[bluesky]

When USSR dissolved, NATO promised not to 'move east'. But they themselves broke that promise multiple times.
Check the number of new NATO members, now they are at door step of Russia. Europe is getting what it deserved, nothing less or more.

Yes, NATO's eastward advance towards east in the former USSR states is the reason Russia attacked Ukraine because Russia does not want A NATO ally on its own border.

NATO is trying to encircle Russia from the west. This is unacceptable to Russia. Either it stops this encroaching by fighting today or Russia becomes another satellite country of America.

Putin had to consider between two possibilities: either it stops NATO today by fighting or his country goes under the feet of America tomorrow. He chose to fight.