& çâÌæÚUæð´ ·¤è ¥ôÚU Îð¹Ùæ ÁæÚUè ÚU¹ð´ ¥ÍæüÌ ¥ÂÙð ÜÿØ ÂÚU ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´Ð ãæÚU Ù ×æÙð´, €UØô´ç·¤ ·¤æ× ·¤ÚUÙð âð ¥æÂ·¤ô ©gðàØ ·¤è Âýæç# ãôÌè ãñ ¥õÚU ÁèßÙ ·¤æ ¹æÜèÂÙ ÎêÚU ãôÌæ ãñÐ ÖÜð ãè ÁèßÙ ×ð´ ç·¤ÌÙè Öè ·¤çÆÙæ§ü €UØô´ Ù ¥æ°, çÁ™ææâæ ¥õÚU ©ˆâæã ÕÙæ° ÚU¹ð´Ð ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´, ÜÿØ ã×ðàææ ¥æÂ·Ô¤ Âæâ ãôÌð ãñ´ çÁ‹ãð´ ÂæÙð ·Ô¤ çÜ° ÂýØæâ ¥æÂ ·¤Öè Öè àæéM¤ ·¤ÚU â·¤Ìð ãñ´Ð

Political freedom seen a must for human uplift

By Staff Correspondent
Bangladesh has slightly moved upwards tn human de vetopment, ranking, according to the Human Development Report, 1992, released yestcr globally
The report, third tn an annual scries, has been prepared by an. independent team of economists for the United Nation* Development Progra mme (UNDP)
The report place* Bang lades h at 135th position out of 160 developing countries. The place was 136th in the report for 1991
The report was slmultane ously released from Stockh olm. Sweden and Washington The UNDP in Bangladesh held a press briefing yesterday afternoon on the occasion Whtnston Temple. Deputy Resident Fepresentattve, for malty released the report here. Bruno J Pouezat, Assi-8 tan I Resident Representative and Amanullah Khan. Programme Officer, dwelt on various aspects of the report.
The reports in 1990 and 1991 introduced the Human Development Index (HD1). which ranks countries not by Gross National product but by combined rates of life expectancy. education and basic purchasing power.
The third report focuses more on the global dimensions of human development — how international trade, immigration and financial policies contribute to human development and income disparities between rich and poor nations.
This years report adds a new dimension to human development saying political freedom Is an essential element of human development.
Referring to the tide of freedom across the globe during 1991. the report observes that Bangladesh switched from martial law regimes to elected Parliamentary system. But the report adds, "close to a third of humankind still lives in countries that place restrictions on political freedom and participation. But the world today is a much freer place than it was three decades ago."
The checklist of indicators of political freedom, according to the report. Includes personal security, rule of law, freedom of expression, political participation and equality of opportunity.
This year. Canada displaced Japan at the top of HDI for industrial countries, while Romania stays at the bottom. Among developing countries. Barbados remains at the top, while Guinea has replaced Sierra Leone at the bottom.
The report has called for major changes In the functioning of the Wold Bank, IMF. GATT, global environment fa cliity and UN programmes to ensure better management of the global economy In the interests of all nations and all people, particularly to promote greater access of the developing countries to opportunities of global markets.
The report also makes an appeal for a development security council within the United Nations. The council would provide a prominent and powerful forum for global policy coordination, trusted by both industrial and developing countries.
The report further observes that restricted and unequal access to the world's financial, trade and labour markets costs developing countries and their poor populations 8500 billion annually. That is nearly ten times what those countries receive In foreign aid.
"The gap between the rich and the poor, according to the report, has doubled during the past three decades, so that the richest fifth of the world's population now receives 150 times the Income of the poorest fifth. If opportunities do not travel towards people, people will start travelling towards opportunities.
It should never be forgotten that poverty needs no passport to travel across international frontiers — in the form of migration, environmental degradation, drugs, disease and political instabll tty," warns the report.
The real causes of poverty and human deprivation are deeply rooted In the national policy actions of developing countries themselves. "Global environments should never be used as an alibi for domestic inaction nor can global reforms substitute for domestic re forms." says Dr Mahbubul Haq, the report's chief author and architect.
Reduction In military spending by 3 per cent a year through the 90s will create a peace dividend of 1500 billion dollars tn Industrialised nations and 300 billton tn the developing countries, the report points out.
UNDP officials in Dhaka said 3 per cent reduction in Bangladesh's current military spendings - 370 million dollars a year - will save 97 million dollars annually by the year 2000. The saving could set up 608 new health centres in the country.
A unique Institution styled as "honesty international," similar to Amnesty International. has been proposed to be set up. The report said such organization should monitor corruption both at national and International levels exposing both those who take bribes and those who offer them. This, the authors hope, would not only deter many officials and multinational staff from temptation, but would also give national legal system evidence to allow it to enforce law.