US Congress recently published a report which shows Bangladesh at the rank of 12 out of 144 countries. The report cite the reference of the finding of Fund for Peace and Foreign Policy magazine.
The reference of the report in the daily draws sharp reactions from the experts.
Bangladesh ranked 12 with 100.3 points out of 144 states, Somalia holds the last position on the basis of following 12 indicators:
Social Indicators:
I-1. Mounting Demographic Pressures
I-2. Massive Movement of Refugees or Internally Displaced Persons creating
Complex Humanitarian Emergencies
I-3. Legacy of Vengeance-Seeking Group Grievance or Group Paranoia
I-4. Chronic and Sustained Human Flight
Economic Indicators
I-5. Uneven Economic Development along Group Lines
I-6. Sharp and/or Severe Economic Decline
Political Indicators
I-7. Criminalization and/or Delegitimization of the State
I-8. Progressive Deterioration of Public Services
I-9. Suspension or Arbitrary Application of the Rule of Law and Widespread
Violation of Human Rights
I-10. Security Apparatus Operates as a "State Within a State"
I-11. Rise of Factionalized Elites
I-12. Intervention of Other States or External Political Actors
The ordinary citizen compiled the following scores of Bangladesh in different attributes:
| Index no | Attributes | Bangladesh score | Rank in the item |
|
| 1.1 | Mounting Demographic Pressures | 9.8 | 2 |
|
| 1.2 | . Massive Movement of Refugees or Internally Displaced Persons creating Complex Humanitarian Emergencies | 7.1 | 38 |
|
| 1.3 | Legacy of Vengeance-Seeking Group Grievance or Group Paranoia | 9.7 | 4 |
|
| 1.4 | Chronic and Sustained Human Flight | 8.4 | 5 |
|
| 1.5 | Uneven Economic Development along Group Lines | 9.0 | 9 |
|
| 1.6 | Sharp and/or Severe Economic Decline | 7.1 | 54 |
|
| 1.7 | Criminalization and/or Delegitimization of the State | 9.1 | 17 |
|
| 1.8 | Progressive Deterioration of Public Services | 7.8 | 39 |
|
| 1.9 | Suspension or Arbitrary Application of the Rule of Law and Widespread Violation of Human Rights | 8.0 | 31 |
|
| 1.10 | . Security Apparatus Operates as a "State Within a State" | 8.3 | 23 |
|
| 1.11 | Rise of Factionalized Elites | 9.6 | 06 |
|
| 1.12 | . Intervention of Other States or External Political Actors | 6.4 | 71 |
|
The table shows interesting finding- Bangladesh scores worst in 1.1 in `Mounting demographic pressure' likely due to climate changes where Bangladesh is rather a victim of the global warming induced by excess carbon emission. The other areas where Bangladesh scores low are 1.3 Legacy of Vengeance-Seeking Group Grievance probably the researchers is not liking the collective bargaining of the LDCs, BIMSTEC,D8 etc;1.4 Chronic and Sustained Human Flight; 1.11 Rise of Factionalized Elites which the report defined as Fragmentation of ruling elites and state institutions along group lines and Use of nationalistic political rhetoric by ruling elites, often in terms of communal irredentism or of communal solidarity; and 1.5 Uneven Economic Development along Group Lines.
The report does not assess from a neutral point. It is fragmented view from above.
The report fails to recognize the courage and resilience of Bangladeshi people in overcoming 2 massive floods and a devastating cyclone, the effect of microfinance on the low income group and the positive transformation that is taking place in our state craft.
In no way Bangladesh is a failed state or will be one? Bangladesh will prove the skeptics wrong.
http://bdoza.wordpress.com/2008/07/20/is-bangladesh-a-failed-state/