Bangladesh fell 25 places to 100th in the 2024 Democracy Index by EIU, undergoing significant score decline due to a rigged election and political unrest. This trend reflects a global struggle for democracy as autocracies strengthen. Grassroots movements are gaining momentum despite challenges, while the interim government prioritizes reforms amid ongoing political pressures.
Bangladesh witnessed a significant drop in the 2024 Democracy Index, as reported by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), plummeting 25 positions to secure the 100th spot out of 167 countries. This decline reflects Bangladesh’s status as a hybrid regime, now situated at the lower end of the classification scale. The nation also recorded the steepest score decrease worldwide, falling 1.44 points on a scale from 0 to 10, attributed to a rigged election, the prime minister’s ousting, and substantial political unrest.
The Democracy Index released noted India’s position at 41st, followed by Bhutan at 79th, Nepal at 96th, Pakistan at 124th, and Afghanistan at the bottom at 167th. The report underscores a global trend of declining democracy, with increasing strength among autocratic governments. Joan Hoey, Director of the Democracy Index remarked, “The world’s democracies are struggling.”
The index evaluates five key dimensions: electoral process and pluralism, civil liberties, effective government functioning, political participation, and political culture. Based on these factors, countries are categorized as full democracies, flawed democracies, hybrid regimes, or authoritarian regimes. Norway achieved the highest score of 9.81, while Afghanistan recorded the lowest at 0.25.
Among the least performing nations included Pakistan, South Korea, Kuwait, Georgia, Qatar, Romania, and Guinea-Bissau. The report highlighted that during Bangladesh’s January 2024 elections, the ruling party was accused of suppressing dissent, restricting media freedoms, manipulating electoral results, and intimidating opposition candidates.
In spite of the election rigging, notable grassroots movements, particularly led by youth, have emerged advocating for reforms, signaling disillusionment with mainstream political entities. The protests that led to Sheikh Hasina’s ouster in August 2024, however, revealed underlying sectarian tensions, culminating in increased violence against minorities.
The EIU indicated that the interim government is under pressure to conduct elections; however, it is prioritizing reforms aimed at reinstating democratic institutions, which may further delay elections beyond 2025.
The 2024 Democracy Index indicates a severe decline in Bangladesh’s democratic standing, triggered by manipulative electoral practices and political turmoil. While grassroots movements signal potential for change, the ongoing sectarian violence and required institutional reforms may hinder the path to restoring democracy. The global democratic landscape remains challenged, with increasing autocratic influences observed worldwide.
Original Source: www.thedailystar.net
