91pc Bangladeshis prefer democracy
For 91 percent Bangladeshis, it is important to live in a democratically governed country, found a survey by Open Society Foundation, a New York-based private funder of independent groups working for justice, democratic governance, and human rights.
Also, 63 percent believe the rise of China on the global stage will have a positive impact on the economy of Bangladesh, while 14 percent believe otherwise.
The survey report titled "Open Society Barometer: Can Democracy Deliver?" was released on Monday, with responses from 36,000 people over a representative group of 30 countries around the world.
According to the findings of the study conducted between May and July this year, younger people hold the least faith in democracy.
Just 57 percent of respondents from the age group of 18-35 think democracy is preferable to any other form of government, compared to 71 percent of older respondents.
But 86 percent of global respondents said they want to live in a democracy, while only 20 percent believe that authoritarian countries can deliver "what citizens want".
Besides, 72 percent of the respondents across the globe, including 88 percent from Bangladesh, believe that human rights have been a "force for good" in the world, and 71 percent agree that "human rights reflect values that I believe in".
In Bangladesh, 18 percent of the respondents said they struggled to feed themselves and their families every day in the past year, while 15 percent experienced it every week and 11 percent every month.
In contrast, 46 percent respondents said they faced no struggle to eat in the past year, according to the study.
The survey said 58 percent -- majorities in 22 out of the 30 countries polled -- are worried that political unrest in their countries could lead to violence in the next year. In Bangladesh, that figure rises to 70 percent.
It also revealed that 84 percent respondents think lending countries should help those struggling with debt by cancelling, reducing, or renegotiating repayment conditions.
Meanwhile, 75 percent want high-income countries to increase overseas aid, and 71 percent believe they should compensate low-income countries for economic losses due to climate change.
In Bangladesh, 88 percent of respondents agreed that high-income countries should take the lead on compensating low-income ones for economic losses caused by climate change.
Respondents consider climate change a major concern alongside poverty and inequality,, with 70 percent being anxious that it will affect their lives next year.
Corruption is seen as the biggest national problem across the world.In Bangladesh, 62 percent respondents said they trust national politicians to work in their best interests.
According to the study, migration is highly visible but of low concern. In Bangladesh, which is the second largest refugee-hosting country in the world, 83 percent respondents believe countries should open up more safe and legal routes for refugees. The figure falls to 58, 55, and 39 percent in the US, UK and Germany respectively.
In Bangladesh, 85 percent agree that lower-income countries should have more of a say in global decision-making, but the figure drops gradually to 68, 50, 49, 45, 33, and 29 percent in India, China, the US, the UK, Germany, Japan and Russia respectively.
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