Bangladesh’s image improves in Pakistan and Sri Lanka: US-based organization's survey

A recent survey by the US-based Pew Research Center has found that Bangladesh’s image has improved among people in neighboring South Asian countries, particularly in Pakistan and Sri Lanka. However, the picture is quite the opposite in India, where positive views of Bangladesh have declined further over the past two years.

The survey also found a notable shift in Bangladeshis’ own views. Their positive attitudes toward India have declined, while their interest in and warmth toward Pakistan have increased.

The survey asked residents of four South Asian countries—Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka—about their views of neighboring countries. The findings show that 66% of Pakistanis have a favorable view of Bangladesh, while the figure stands at 56% in Sri Lanka. In both countries, therefore, more than half of the population views Bangladesh positively. In contrast, only 25% of Indians hold a favorable view of Bangladesh.

An analysis of trends over the past two years shows a similar pattern. Compared with 2024, favorable views of Bangladesh in Sri Lanka have increased by 9 percentage points, while in India they have declined by 10 percentage points.

The survey also identified significant changes in Bangladeshis’ own perceptions of neighboring countries. Their favorable view of India has fallen by 15 percentage points since 2024, dropping to 42%.
By contrast, Bangladeshis’ favorable views of Pakistan have risen significantly.

In 2024, only 40% of Bangladeshis viewed Pakistan positively. That figure has now risen to 54%, representing a 14-percentage-point increase over the past two years.

The survey also highlighted differences in perceptions of regional security. People in both Bangladesh and Pakistan most frequently identified India as the biggest threat to their respective countries. The picture is markedly different in Sri Lanka, where 63% of people consider India their country’s most important ally.

Among the four countries, Sri Lanka has the most favorable overall image. Around half of the populations of Bangladesh, India and Pakistan view Sri Lanka positively.

Published on August 13, the survey’s overall findings indicate that public perceptions of Bangladesh in South Asia have undergone significant changes over the past two years.

Favorable views of Bangladesh have increased—or remained relatively high—in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, while they have declined in India. At the same time, Bangladeshis’ favorable views of India have decreased, while positive sentiment toward Pakistan has increased.