Bangladesh’s Democracy Index Plummets to 100th Position
Bangladesh has plummeted 25 spots in the 2024 Democracy Index to rank 100th among 167 countries, indicating a deteriorating democracy largely due to a contested election and political unrest. The country experienced the largest decline globally, with a score drop attributed to manipulation of electoral processes and suppression of dissent. Grassroots movements are rising amidst these challenges, calling for significant reforms.
The recently published 2024 Democracy Index by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) reports that Bangladesh has experienced a significant decline, dropping 25 positions to 100th out of 167 countries. This development categorizes the nation as a hybrid regime, although it is now situated closer to the lower spectrum of this classification. The decline resulted from a marked global score decrease of 1.44 points on a scale from 0 to 10, attributed to factors including a “rigged election, the ousting of the prime minister, and political unrest.”
The rankings indicate a persistent downturn in global democracy, with autocracies notably gaining strength. Joan Hoey, the director of the Democracy Index, stated that “the world’s democracies are struggling.” The index is predicated on five essential elements: electoral process and pluralism, civil liberties, government functioning, political participation, and political culture, thus categorizing nations as full democracies, flawed democracies, hybrid regimes, or authoritarian regimes.
In this year’s index, Norway emerges at the top with a score of 9.81, while Afghanistan ranks at the bottom with a score of 0.25. It is noteworthy that nine of the top ten democracies are located in Europe, with New Zealand being the only exception in second place. Countries such as Pakistan, South Korea, Kuwait, Georgia, Qatar, Romania, and Guinea-Bissau were among the poorest performers.
The report outlines significant events in Bangladesh’s January 2024 general election, where the ruling party allegedly suppressed dissent, limited media freedoms, and manipulated electoral outcomes, intimidating opposition candidates. Despite these election irregularities, grassroots movements, particularly those led by youth, have surfaced as potential agents of change, indicating a rising discontent towards traditional political party systems.
The protests that led to the ouster of Sheikh Hasina in August 2024 also unveiled underlying sectarian tensions, resulting in violent incidents against minorities in the aftermath. The EIU highlighted that while the interim government is under pressure to expedite elections, it is emphasizing necessary reforms to restore democratic institutions, which may result in a delay of elections until beyond 2025.
In conclusion, the Democracy Index reveals Bangladesh’s alarming descent in democratic governance, primarily influenced by electoral malpractices and political unrest. The emergence of youth-led movements signals a yearning for change amid significant sociopolitical challenges. The ongoing situation accentuates the need for reform and institutional stability, which may impact the timeline for future elections.
Original Source: www.thedailystar.net
