Bangladesh has made impressive progress in human development as the country’s Human Development Index (HDI) value increased by 60.4 percent between 1990 and 2019, a new report says.
According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) published on Monday, Bangladesh’s 2019 HDI is above the average for countries in the medium human development group.
The country’s life expectancy at birth rose by 14.4 years, mean years of schooling went up by 3.4 years, and expected years of schooling increased by 6.0 years in between 1990-2019, the report mentioned.
Its GNI per capita has also risen by about 220.1 percent during the time, it added.
The report titled “The Next Frontier: Human Development and the Anthropocene” launched in Bangladesh on Monday, six days after the global launch, includes a new experimental index on human progress.
Planning Minister, MA Mannan attended the report launching ceremony as the chief guest at the NEC Conference Room in the city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area.
Following the launching, a panel discussion was held participated by Prof Dr Shamsul Alam, Member of the General Economics Division (GED) of the Planning Commission; Prof Saleemul Huq, Climate Scientist, Director ICCAD; Dr Fahmida Khatun, Executive Director, Centre for Policy Dialogue; Dr Samia Huq, Anthropologist, Dean of General Studies, BRAC University; and Ar. Iqbal Habib, Architect and Environmentalist.
Shahidul Haque, former Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, moderated the discussion.
According to the report, Bangladesh has moved up two notches in the Human Development Index — to 133 — compared to last year.
The report said Bangladesh remains fifth among the eight South Asian countries covered in the report, but bounced up nine notches in the new planetary pressures-adjusted human development index (PHDI).
MA Mannan said, “Despite numerous challenges, Bangladesh is committed to nourishing the health of our planet, and working towards building a “Sonar Bangla,” as envisioned by the Father of our Nation,”
“The strain on our planet mirrors the strain facing many of our societies. Climate change, among other dangerous planetary changes, will only make them worse,” he added.
Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator, during the global launch said “As this report shows, no country in the world has yet achieved very high human development without putting immense strain on the planet. But, we could be the first generation to right this wrong. That is the next frontier for human development,”
UNDP Bangladesh’s Resident Representative, Sudipto Mukerjee, pointed out that the Coronavirus pandemic’s collateral costs far outweigh the loss of lives.
“To name a few of the obvious, such as a large number of people pushed into poverty due to lost livelihoods, increased inequalities, increased gender-based violence, increased risks of having a large proportion of children and youth dropping out of education, etc.,” Sudipto pointed out.
He said scientists have been warning of a pandemic like this for years, as a reflection of the pressures people put on Planet Earth. “HDR 2020 points out that our future is not about choosing between people or trees. It’s about choosing to do things differently.
Calling for increased cooperation for a better future, Sudipto said that choices that could stop the pandemic and end poverty, close the digital divide, and tackle the climate emergency so that this unique moment in time could be used to move to the next frontier for people and planet.
However, Norway has maintained its top position in the Human Development Index this year as it did last year.
Ireland and Switzerland are in the second and third position respectively. It is followed by Hong Kong, Iceland, Germany, Sweden, Australia, the Netherlands and Denmark.
Ghana, Liberia, Guinea-Bissau, Congo and Niger are behind the most.
Among the South Asian countries, India, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Bhutan are ahead of Bangladesh. This year, Sri Lanka's position has slipped one place to 72nd. Maldives has moved up 9 places from 104th to 95th position.
India moved up two places to 131st and Bhutan moved up five places to 129th. On the other hand, Pakistan, Nepal and Afghanistan are behind Bangladesh.
