Bangladesh struggles with declining global rankings due to corruption and diminishing freedoms, often compared to Afghanistan. Although Bangladesh currently ranks above Afghanistan in several indexes, the situation raises concerns about the country’s trajectory. Amidst conflicting narratives, Bangladesh must confront its challenges and aspire to improve rather than rely on Afghanistan’s poor performance to avoid last place.
Bangladesh faces the daunting challenge of declining global rankings across various sectors. The country, grappling with issues such as corruption, restricted press freedoms, and diminishing democracy, has often been compared to its neighbor, Afghanistan. In this context, Bangladesh maintains a precarious position, with Afghanistan’s plight preventing it from sinking to the lowest rank. In the Freedom in the World 2024 index, Bangladesh is rated as ‘partly free’ with a score of 40 out of 100, while Afghanistan ranks as ‘not free’ with only 6 points.
In the Rule of Law Index 2024, Bangladesh ranks 127th among 142 nations, while Afghanistan falls behind at 140th. Similarly, the Press Freedom Index 2024 places Bangladesh at 165th out of 180 countries, with Afghanistan positioned even lower at 178th. The Trace Bribery Risk Matrix 2024 places Bangladesh at 147th out of 194, as Afghanistan trails at 186th. The Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2024 reveals Bangladesh’s score of 23, the lowest in thirteen years, which remains above Afghanistan’s score of 17.
Bangladesh oscillates between two divergent viewpoints regarding Afghanistan. One faction warns of the dangers of becoming akin to Taliban-led Afghanistan, citing rising extremist ideologies and diminishing freedoms. Conversely, another faction advocates for governance that mirrors Afghanistan’s model. Such conflicting narratives find common ground in Bangladesh’s current global standing, as both sides are compelled to acknowledge their relative positions amidst declining scores.
This predicament places Bangladesh in a position akin to a struggling student, salvaged from failure by a neighbor’s poorer performance. However, it is imperative to question how long this reliance on Afghanistan will suffice to avoid the last position. Rather than continuing to race towards the lowest ranks, Bangladesh ought to aspire to elevate its global standing.
In summary, while Bangladesh has managed to avoid last place in various global rankings through comparisons with Afghanistan, the nation must confront its pressing issues such as corruption and declining freedoms. The ongoing debate about governance and societal values highlights the complexities of Bangladesh’s current predicament. Moving forward, it is essential for Bangladesh to strive for meaningful improvements instead of relying on the misfortunes of others to maintain its relative position.
Original Source: www.tbsnews.net
