It is a shame to learn that, according to the Global Liveability Index 2024 released by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), Dhaka has slipped further down in the global rankings of liveable cities -- and now ranks 168th out of 173 cities, down from 166 the past year.
While global indexes are oftentimes dismissed as inconsistent and lacking context, the fact of the matter is that the capital city of a country with ambitions such as Bangladesh continuing to find itself languishing near the bottom of this index year after year is not a good look for us as a nation.
To say that this persistent poor performance should be a harsh reminder of the urgent need for comprehensive urban reform is an understatement; our capital city has been in dire need of decentralization for decades, and with every year that we ignore these needs, the less liveable our capital appears to become.
Indeed, this index also paints us in a negative light to potential investors and companies who would be thinking of investing in Bangladesh. There have been numerous editorials and articles detailing just how important foreign direct investment (FDI) is with respect to our future growth.
Dhaka’s challenges are numerous, from lagging healthcare facilities to crippling traffic to consistently having the most polluted air in the world. The culture of neglect and impunity that has permeated has not helped address these issues, letting them become worse with each passing year.
It’s about time we realize that we have a far from ideal capital city, and it is hurting our nation as a whole.
