The EIU’s Democracy Index ranks Bangladesh 100th out of 167 countries. This ranking marks a steep decline, positioning Bangladesh below India and above Pakistan. Notably, Norway tops the list while Bangladesh faces significant challenges, particularly in government functioning and citizens’ freedoms, raising vital questions regarding its democratic processes and governance reforms.
The Democracy Index, compiled by the Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU), has recently ranked Bangladesh 100th out of 167 countries, indicating a significant decline in its democratic standing. Despite being positioned above Pakistan (124th), Bangladesh is below India (41st) and shares its rank with Benin, highlighting a troubling trend in global democracy. The Index’s findings suggest that many democracies worldwide are facing challenges.
Norway remains at the top of the Democracy Index, with nine of the top ten nations being European, while New Zealand stands as the only exception. In contrast, the bottom performers include countries like Pakistan, South Korea, and Qatar. Bangladesh has seen a drastic drop from 73rd in 2023 to 100th this year, demonstrating a concerning deterioration in its democratic status. This decline raises important questions regarding the correlation between the Democracy Index and national Human Development Index (HDI) statistics.
Although democracy may not be a flawless system, it remains the most effective form of governance available. This value is comparable to human rights and contributes to economic development and social stability. Significant historical patterns indicate that nations with strong democratic governance do not experience famines, underscoring the importance of democracy in ensuring human well-being.
Discussions surrounding the Democracy Index are essential in evaluating its importance as a measure of a country’s democratic ethos. While it offers some insight into democratic health, its limitations necessitate cautious interpretation. It serves to motivate competition between nations while highlighting its inadequacies in capturing the full essence of democracy.
As a composite index, the Democracy Index relies on five essential dimensions, including electoral pluralism and government functioning. The subjective nature of many indicators and the limited data credibility hinder its robustness as a definitive measure of democracy. It is critical to recognize that while the index categorizes nations, such as Bangladesh’s classification as a hybrid regime, it also exposes the complexities inherent in democratic evaluation.
In Bangladesh’s case, its lowest scores were in the dimensions of government functioning and citizens’ freedoms, despite a more favorable ranking in electoral process and pluralism. This discrepancy indicates weaknesses in the Index’s methodology and emphasizes ongoing governance challenges that must be addressed amid ongoing reforms aimed at restoring democratic frameworks.
The recent EIU report highlights a significant dilemma for the interim government in Bangladesh as it strives to balance the urgent need to conduct national elections promptly with the imperative to reform democratic institutions. This tension is poised to potentially impact the timeline of the impending elections significantly.
In summary, the Democracy Index presents a critical overview of Bangladesh’s current democratic standing, reflecting both declines and persistent challenges the nation faces. It raises essential discussions about the nature of democracy and its implications for governance and citizen freedoms. The insights gleaned from the Index underline the necessity for substantial reforms, especially in government functioning and preserving individual liberties, to pave the way for a more robust democratic society.
Original Source: www.thedailystar.net
