A Critical Discourse Analysis of Editorials of the Three English Newspapers on Hasina’s Fall Using Norman Fairclough’s Framework

Abstract

This research aimed at examining a comparative critical discourse analysis of the representation of Sheikh Hasina’s political decline in August 2024 as reflected in the editorials of three prominent English-language newspapers in South Asia: the DAWN (Pakistan), the New Age (Bangladesh), and the Hindustan Times (India). This research adopted a qualitative research design founded in Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), specifically referencing Norman Fairclough’s three-dimensional framework: 1. Textual Analysis (Description), 2. Discursive Practice (Interpretation), and 3. Social Practice (Explanation). Applying this three-dimensional framework of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), this study examined the linguistic selections and discursive methods employed to portray Hasina’s resignation and highlighted underlying power structures. The textual analysis indicated notable differences. For example, the DAWN revealed a critical stance cautioning against authoritarianism and military involvement; the New Age provided a respectful, biographical portrayal that highlighted Hasina’s legacy; while the Hindustan Times represented her removal as a geopolitical crisis with implications for India in the region. The discursive and sociocultural analyses further illustrated how these texts were influenced by their national contexts, historical ties, and institutional ideologies. Each editorial reflected broader issues, ranging from the decline of democracy and civil-military interactions to national reputation and foreign policy concerns. This study concluded that editorial discourses serve as a potent tool for either reinforcing or challenging prevailing ideologies. By examining representations across borders, the research enhanced an understanding of how media framing affected political perceptions, public awareness, and cross-national narratives in South Asia. The findings emphasized the importance of CDA in deconstructing media rhetoric and provided insights into the intersection of language, ideology, and power in regional journalism.