Quite a number of dailies in Bangladesh seem to be showing keen interest in analysing Indian affairs of late.
From politics of recent cabinet reshuffle in India to reasons behind Saudi Arabia's overture to India, or even Rahul Gandhi's recent 'modesty act' — our friendly South Asian neighbour's concern is worth making a mention.
A look at some of the recent developments in India, that forced our neighbour to react.
Observer status for India at OIC
Saudi King Abdullah's recent visit to India has for sure raised the eyebrows of our South Asian neighbours.
After all the brouhaha in Pakistan over the issue of providing Observer status to India at the OIC, Bangladesh has pitched in too.
"The wide-ranging political and strategic implications of his participation as the chief guest on the republic day in New Delhi has not been lost in South Asia and outside," The Daily Star said in its editorial.
Bringing out the reasons for King's interest, the daily said: "India is the fifth largest trading partner of Saudi Arabia…Indian companies have set up 82 fully-owned companies in Saudi Arabia.
"There is an oil factor for Saudi Arabia's overture to as well. India is hungry for hydrocarbons and Saudi Arabia seeks to get an access to a safe and huge market export of oil to India."
{{/usCountry}}"There is an oil factor for Saudi Arabia's overture to as well. India is hungry for hydrocarbons and Saudi Arabia seeks to get an access to a safe and huge market export of oil to India."
{{/usCountry}}But unlike its other neighbour Pakistan, where media gave almost a negative impression as regards India at the OIC, Bangladeshi media appeared a bit upbeat.
"OIC needs the support of vibrant democratic India that stands in the middle of South Asia and at the centre of the Indian Ocean, that reaches out from the sands of Egypt to the Straits of Malacca, for its profile that will secure its role in international relations," The Daily Star said.
Cabinet reshuffle
The Dhaka press empathised with Mani Shankar Aiyer, who has been recently stripped off his Petroleum ministry.
An editorial in the New Age daily says, "The carelessness with which Mani Shankar Aiyar has been moved out of the petroleum ministry in Delhi does not do credit to the government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh".
The daily maintained that the recent reshuffle has been a sad commentary on Indian politics.
"Aiyar had been doing a good job and all those who have seen him operate once he took charge of the petroleum ministry have remarked on the wisdom and foresight he brought to bear on the subject," the paper opined.
Mr Modesty Rahul Gandhi
The young Turk from Gandhi family says that he is still at a learning stage and that gave Independent to take a dig at the country's most eligible bachelor.
In a very jocular vein, the editorial said, "Rahul finds that Congress is clamouring to crown him King. But the crown prince refused to accept the crown saying he was not ready".
"His father was a pilot who became prime minister. Rahul is a race driver who will become a prime minister. Royalty don't need to know their job; they get crowned as king anyway. The people don't know the difference till it's too late…"