Bangladesh has witnessed a notable surge of 13 points in overall prosperity from 1995 to 2022, yet it has experienced a continuous decline in freedom over the past 22 years, as per the Freedom and Prosperity Report released by the US-based non-profit Atlantic Council.
The report was presented during a conference co-hosted by the US Agency for International Development and The Asia Foundation in the city today.
The Freedom and Prosperity Indexes are distinct measures that evaluate 164 countries globally based on their levels of liberty and affluence.
Bangladesh's placement at 141 out of 164 on the Freedom Index categorizes it within the "mostly unfree" bracket.
In the year 2000, Bangladesh secured the 116th spot, marking its pinnacle in liberty, surpassing neighboring nations with a score exceeding the regional average by more than four points for South and Central Asia.
"Nevertheless, the path has been less advantageous thereafter, witnessing a consistent downturn in freedom. At present,
Bangladesh lags behind… This downward trend underscores a worrisome pattern that demands scrutiny and examination."
According to the report, in 2022, Bangladesh occupied the eighth position among the twelve South and Central Asian nations surveyed, signaling a moderate performance concerning freedom in comparison to its regional peers. Notably, countries such as Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka all exhibit greater levels of freedom than Bangladesh.
For instance, Pakistan, ranking seventh in the region, surpasses Bangladesh by a significant margin of 11.5 points. Within the region, only three countries—Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan—score lower than Bangladesh in this aspect.
The report highlights a downward trend in political freedom in Bangladesh since 2000. In 1999, Bangladesh stood at the 108th position globally in terms of political freedom. Presently, it has descended to the 130th rank out of 164 countries. This decline raises significant concerns regarding the state of political liberties within the nation.
"The January parliamentary elections cemented a shift towards a 'dominant-party' system. Capitalizing on an opposition boycott, the Awami League prolonged its fifteen-year governance, positioning Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to become the world's longest-serving female head of government.
"While signifying stability, dominant-party systems often confront challenges that can undermine good governance. Ensuring robust competition across politics, governance, and the economy is imperative to mitigate these risks."
As per the report, Bangladesh's position of 99 out of 164 on the Prosperity Index classifies it as "mostly unprosperous."
Thanks to this expansive definition of prosperity, Bangladesh surpasses some neighboring countries in the overall prosperity score, including India and Pakistan, although it falls behind
India in GDP per capita when adjusted for purchasing power parity.
"Despite notable advancements in areas like healthcare and education, progress in addressing inequality and environmental sustainability has been more moderate, and has even regressed concerning minority rights," noted the report.
This indicates that improvements have been piecemeal rather than systematic and strategic. To effect meaningful change, understanding the root causes of these issues and devising a cohesive plan to address them and enhance all facets of prosperity is essential, the report suggests.
"Moreover, prioritizing the least performing components by concentrating resources and efforts on areas where Bangladesh has the most room to improve can significantly elevate overall prosperity," it added.
The data demonstrates that nations with greater freedom generally enjoy higher levels of prosperity, while those with lesser freedom tend to exhibit lower levels of prosperity. Countries that promote political and economic liberties, alongside robust legal frameworks, cultivate an environment more conducive to foreign investment, noted Joseph Lemoine, director of the Atlantic Council's Freedom and Prosperity Center, at the conference in the city.
"Every country contends with issues like corruption and securing economic and political rights. The crux lies not in avoiding problems, but in actively acknowledging and addressing them," emphasized the US Ambassador to Bangladesh at the event.
