Covid recovery index: Bangladesh ranks first in South Asia

Bangladesh is now ranked first out of eight countries in South Asia and fifth out of 121 countries across the globe on Nikkei's Covid-19 Recovery Index.

With a score of 80 on the index, Bangladesh ranks only below Qatar, UAE, Cambodia and Rwanda in the latest edition of the index published on Thursday.

Of the other South Asian countries on the list, Nepal ranked sixth, Pakistan 23rd, Sri Lanka 31st, and India 70th in the world.

Covid-19 infections in Bangladesh have been on a downward spiral in recent months. The country's total fatalities remain unchanged at 29,127, with no new deaths reported for over a fortnight till 8:00am yesterday.

In March, Bangladesh placed 13th in the Covid recovery index.

Taiwan's ranking has plunged in the latest edition of Nikkei's index as the island transitions from a strict zero-virus strategy to living with the respiratory illness, even as infections surge.

The country tumbled out of the fourth spot to 94th in the latest ranking, tying with China, which fell 62 places from last month as it battles its worst outbreak since the virus was first detected in the city of Wuhan more than two years ago.

The index, updated at the end of each month, assesses countries and regions on infection management, vaccine rollouts and social mobility.

The higher the ranking, the closer it is to recovery, characterised by lower infection and death rates, better inoculation coverage, as well as fewer movement restrictions.

The index is maintained by Nikkei, Japan's leading business publication group that includes the Nikkei, Nikkei Asia, and the Financial Times (of London).