The whole country rejoices at the good news. A report published in a British newspaper on 21 December carried the headline, "Bangladesh, the Best Country of the year 2024." According to the influential magazine The Economist, Bangladesh has been named the best country of 2024.
The Economist highlighted the fall of Sheikh Hasina's authoritarian government, brought about by a student uprising, and the new journey that Bangladesh has embarked upon. It is worth noting that the magazine published this report on its website last Thursday. This year's runner-up is Syria, a Middle Eastern nation. The final list also included Poland, South Africa and Argentina.
Since 2013, The Economist has been selecting a "country of the year" each December. Previous winners include Colombia (for ending its civil war), Ukraine (for resisting an unprovoked Russian invasion), and Malawi (for advancing democracy). This year, Bangladesh was chosen following the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government, which occurred on 5 August amidst a student-led uprising.
On the same day, Sheikh Hasina, the president of the Awami League, fled to India, marking the end of her 15-and-a-half-year authoritarian rule. Subsequently, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus was appointed to lead an interim government on 8 August. This government has since formed commissions to reform several key areas, including the constitution and the election commission, symbolising a new chapter for Bangladesh.
According to Professor Salimullah Khan, the news of Bangladesh being named the best country of 2024 by The Economist deserves special recognition. He noted that Bangladesh's powerful neighbour, India, has been spreading one-sided news, which has been met with protests and counter-evaluations.
Professor Khan remarked, "Bangladesh has initiated revolutionary changes on its path to democracy, striving to fulfil the original promise of its liberation war. However, Indian newspapers have ignored this progress, instead spreading false claims that only Hindus and Christians face persecution in Bangladesh. This is entirely untrue. With The Economist's recognition, their one-sided propaganda will hopefully be challenged. The question remains: can the weak and corrupt Modi-controlled media withstand this blow?"
Ashikujaman Syed
Business Development Manager
Fuyi (Xiamen) Material Technology Co. Ltd
Xiamen, China
[email protected]
