Social Progress Index 2016
Bangladesh has done well but can do better
It is heartening to note that Bangladesh is one of the top performers in ensuring nutrition and basic medical care, and health and wellness, according to the Social Progress Index 2016. The study included 133 countries and was based on 12 components. Because of its poor performance in 9 out of the 12 indicators, however, Bangladesh was disappointingly listed as having made 'low social progress' only and was ranked 101st in the ranking.
The areas in which the country failed to impress the most were water and sanitation, shelter, access to basic knowledge, access to information and communications, environmental quality, personal rights, personal freedom and choice, tolerance and inclusion and access to advanced education.
While Bangladesh did perform laudably well in three broad areas, we should definitely refrain from wallowing in our success having failed to do the same in the nine others. And what we need to realise is that improving our performance in those areas is also very important. Because, in order to truly succeed in our endeavour to improve the quality of life for all citizens, we cannot simply focus on selective areas alone, but have to pull all the sectors together and improve our performances across the board.
Hence, the authorities should concentrate more on the areas where the country performed poorly, without losing momentum in those where it did well. Through inclusive and sincere efforts, we believe that improving living conditions for all, in each and every area of life, is achievable.