The democracy project in Bangladesh- Transformation Index 2018

The democracy project in Bangladesh- Transformation Index 2018

Article:

1. Subir bhaumik, a former BBC bureau chief for East and Northeast India, has analysed the Transformation Index 2018 report which ranked Bangladesh as autocratic nation.

 Important Analysis

2. “Transformation Index 2018 (BTI)” released by Germany’s Bertelsmann Foundation has rated Bangladesh at 58 out of 129 developing nations as autocratic nation.
3. Bangladesh, Lebanon, Mozambique, Nicaragua and Uganda are the “new” autocracies, according to Germany’s Bertelsmann Foundation.
4. The BTI has, since 2006, been measuring quality of democracy, market economy and governance in 129 developing and transformation countries.
5. The Bertelsmann Foundation has divided the report on Bangladesh in two parts “positive developments” and “negative developments”
6. Positive developments:

• economic output
• macroeconomic stability
• market-based competition and private enterprise

7. Negative developments:

• The political realm such as free and fair elections.
• No separation of powers and
• Absence the independence of the judiciary.

8. Impact of rise of Autocracy in Bangladesh

• Corruption
• Social exclusion and
• Barriers to fair economic competition

9. Subir Bhaumik observes under Awami league Bangladesh has achieved phenomenal economic growth and inclusive social and human development in areas such as gender empowerment and public health care.
10. Under Awami league Bangladesh has taken number of measure to contain Islamic terrorism post-2014. There was a campaign targeting secular bloggers, writers, publishers and folk singers threatened the secular nature of Bangladesh.
11. Subir Bhaumik doubts the intention of Western media. They underplay the element of ideological conflict between two visions of Bangladesh

• A secular, democratic vision that is focused on economic growth and
• A communal vision like a replica of Pakistan’s religion-driven politics

12. He observes that western media also rejects military-driven propaganda that Bangladesh had better prospects if led by a technocrats, micro- and macro-bankers, military generals and intelligence chiefs.
13. The ruling Awami League Party has rejected the study as baseless and claimed the country to be a “100 percent democracy”. The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has said the report reflects the true nature of Bangladesh’s current political climate.
14. He advised India not to let the West to misuse or misrepresent national sovereign like Bangladesh through these reports. India has a huge stake in having a friendly regime in Bangladesh for strategic and economic reasons.