Despite leaving India and Pakistan in prosperity, Bangladesh lags behind in the freedom index



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com, Dhaka
photo: Collected

photo: Collected

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In 2023, Bangladesh will surpass neighboring countries India-Pakistan in terms of prosperity, but it is far behind the countries in terms of freedom. Two foreign organizations based in Dhaka have published a report highlighting the position of Bangladesh in the index of freedom and prosperity.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and The Asia Foundation jointly organized the Prosperity and Good Governance Conference at the US Embassy in Dhaka on Tuesday (April 16) to share the findings of the Atlantic Council's new Global Freedom and Prosperity Report.

The report lists Bangladesh as 'mostly poor' on the Prosperity Index and 'mostly subjugated' on the Freedom Index.

In this list made for 2023, Bangladesh ranks 99th among 164 countries in the prosperity index among South Asian countries. India ranks 146th and Pakistan ranks 150th in the list. But Bangladesh ranks 141st on the Freedom Index, while India ranks 104th and Pakistan ranks 113th.

Various factors such as GDP per capita including health, inequality, environmental conditions, minority rights and education are taken into account to list the prosperity index. On the other hand, political, economic and legal conditions are measured to list the freedom index.

Strengthening fundamental freedoms accelerates long-term economic prosperity, according to research by a US-based think tank.

According to the report, the January 7 parliamentary elections marked a strong shift towards an authoritarian party system. By boycotting the opposition party and using it as capital, Awami League has sustained its 15-year rule. Besides, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is going to be the longest serving woman head of government in the world. Although this indicates stability, authoritarian party systems often face various risks that can undermine good governance. To mitigate these risks, healthy competition in politics, governance and the economy must be ensured.

Speaking at the conference, US Ambassador Peter Haas said that among the 164 countries listed by the Atlantic Council (in the Freedom Index), countries listed as 'mostly subjugated' were not listed as 'prosperous' (in the Prosperity Index). This suggests that Bangladesh needs to take bold steps to increase the economic, political and legal freedom of its people in order to become prosperous.

He further said that every country is facing problems in securing economic and political rights besides corruption. Rather than avoiding problems, the real objective should be to accept problems and actively try to solve them.

Conference keynote speaker Joseph Lemoine, director of the Atlantic Council's Center for Freedom and Prosperity, outlined the key findings of the report. The report assesses a nation's economic standing using democracy and governance indicators based on the Freedom Index and the Prosperity Index.

According to Joseph Lemoine, the data shows that countries with more freedom enjoy higher prosperity and countries with less freedom enjoy lower prosperity. A country can be more welcoming to foreign investors by improving political and economic freedom and creating a strong legal environment.

He also said that more independent countries receive significantly more foreign direct investment than less independent countries. As the overall freedom index suggests, a strong commitment to freedom is key to attracting foreign investment.

Government representatives, representatives of civil society, businessmen, donors and people from various fields were present in the conference.

   

Artificial intelligence should be applied for the welfare of people: Foreign Minister



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
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For the sake of humanity, the foreign minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud urged the international community not to accept any new weapons, including automatic weapons.

He made the call at a high-level panel discussion on the challenges of regulating automatic weapons systems at the International Conference on 'Humanity at the Crossroads: Autonomous Weapons Systems and the Challenge of Regulation' at Vienna's Hofburg Palace on Monday (April 29).

The foreign minister said that it is necessary to focus on the beneficial application of artificial intelligence for the benefit of mankind, including agriculture, medicine, space exploration, climate change, employment creation, and not on weapons systems to wipe out humanity.

Dr. Hasan highlighted the importance of controlling the use of weapons on people. He questioned what would happen to international peace and security if non-state actors and terrorist organizations had access to artificially intelligent automated weapons.

He advocated global policies to effectively control automatic weapons systems and said appropriate international laws should be judiciously applied to both lethal artificial intelligence and automatic weapons.

The foreign minister highlighted the precarious situation in Gaza and warned the international community against opening new fronts of conflict and tension.

Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schulenburg, Costa Rican Foreign Minister Arnoldo Andre Tenneco, Norwegian State Secretary Eivind Vad Peterson and President of the International Committee of the Red Cross Mirjana Spoljaric Eger joined as co-panelists.

More than eight hundred representatives of more than 120 UN bodies, rights groups and international organizations are participating in this conference organized by the Ministry of European and International Affairs of Austria.

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Farmer killed in the cross fire of dacoits and RAB in Cox's Bazar



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com, Cox’s Bazar
Photo: Barta24.com

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A farmer named Bayatullah was killed in the cross firing of RAB-dacoits in Varuakhali, Cox's Bazar.

The incident happened on Monday (April 29) in the evening of Cox's Bazar Sadar Upazila in Ward No. 9 Mura Para of Varuakhali Union.

It has been reported that Masud Chowdhury, an NGO worker of the private organization Tytashi, confessed to the kidnapping this afternoon. When RAB came to know about the matter, RAB conducted an operation in the hills of Ward No. 9 Mura Para of Varuakhali. Dacoits shot at RAB in that operation. At one point, an innocent farmer was shot and died.

Karimullah, the brother of the deceased Bayatullah, said that Farhad-Mostak, the gang chief of Shere Bahini, had caused the incident. They have established a reign of terror in our area. When they came to the market, they would order everyone to turn off the video camera of their mobile phones.

In this incident, NGO worker Masud Chowdhury was rescued by RAB in an unconscious condition. RAB sources said that dacoit Farhad was arrested. 

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6 people died on the way home after eye surgery



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com, Cox’s Bazar
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At 11:30 a.m. in the Eidgaon area of Cox's Bazar, 6 people including 5 people from Banshkhali of Chattogram have been reported dead in a head-on collision between a bus and a micro. After 2 people died on the spot, 4 others died while undergoing treatment at the hospital. With this, the death in road accidents has increased to 6 people. It is also learned that at least 12 people including 6 people from Banskhali were injured.

The tragic accident took place at Khodaibari AG Lutfur Kabir Adarsh Dakhil Madrasa area of Eidgaon on Cox's Bazar-Chattogram highway around 11:30 am on Monday (April 29).

Dullahazara highway police in charge Mozammel Haque confirmed the truth of the incident.

The deceased are Hafsa Begum, wife of Monir Ahmed of Ilsha village of Baharchhara UP, Banshkhali Upazila of Chattogram, son of Golam Sobhan of Kufia Dongra village of Khankhanabad UP. Dula Mia, son of deceased Mofizur Rahman of Ilsha old village of Ward No. 7, Baharchara, Mahmuda Begum, wife of deceased Mahbubul Alam, Saira Khatun, wife of Abdul Quddus of Dongra Chowkidar. Relatives of the deceased said that Saira Khatun and Mahmada Khatun were mother and daughter.

The injured in this incident are- Abdul Mannan, son of deceased Akmal Mia of Ward No. 8 Baharchhara, Fatema Begum wife of deceased Abu Salek of Ward No. 5 of South Ilsha of the same UP, Abdur Rashid son of deceased Dudu Mia of Ward No. 4 of Khankhanabad UP, Taiyab Ali of Matbar Bari of Ward No. 2 Kathria. Wife Jahanara Begum, son of Abul Khayer of Ward No. 3 Bagmara Village, Rafiq Ahmad, Abdul Qayyum of the same area. At least 12 people, including Qayyum Mia's son Nurul Hossain, were reportedly injured.

The victims came to Cox's Bazar Baitush Sharaf Eye Hospital for eye treatment and were returning home after treatment.

Mohammad Ibrahim Sikder, a local UP member of Baharchhara Union Parishad of Banshkhali, told Barta24.com that Banshkhali's Saber Ahmad Master Memorial Society and Bachao provide free eye treatment to poor and distressed people. This time also 215 people are undergoing free cataract surgery. Operation was done at Baitush Sharaf Hospital in Cox's Bazar. Five people in my area died on the way back from the last stage of surgery. It is very shocking.

The bodies of the deceased have been handed over to the families, said the in-charge of Dullahazara Highway Police Mozammel Haque. 

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Weather Directorate forecasts about the weather of today across the country



News Desk, Barta24.com
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A severe heat wave is blowing over the entire country including the capital Dhaka. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has predicted that this ongoing heatwave may continue.

These things are reported in the 24-hour weather forecast from Monday (April 29) 6:00 pm to Tuesday (April 30) 6:00 pm.

According to the notification, the extension of low pressure is located in West Bengal and adjoining areas. In this situation, the day temperature may increase slightly and the night temperature may remain almost unchanged till 6 pm on Tuesday (April 30) across the country. Excess water vapor may cause discomfort.

However, very intense heat wave is passing over Jashore, Chuadanga, Pabna and Rajshahi districts and the rest of Khulna and Rajshahi divisions and Dhaka division. Mild to moderate heat wave is prevailing over Barishal, Rangpur and Chattogram divisions including Mymensingh district and may continue.

Besides, during the same period, two places in Chattogram and Sylhet divisions may experience temporary gusty or windy rain or rain with thunder. Also, there may be scattered hailstorms in some parts of the country.

The forecast also said that the day temperature may rise slightly across the country during the next 24 hours from 6 pm on Tuesday and the night temperature may remain almost unchanged. However, the prevailing heat wave may continue. Besides, at the same time, there may be temporary gusty or gusty winds or rain with thunder in two places of Sylhet division and there may be scattered hailstorms in some parts of the country. Elsewhere in the country, the weather will be mainly dry with partly cloudy skies. The prevailing heat wave may continue.

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