Global Peace Index: Bangladesh slips down 9 spots

Bangladesh slipped down nine spots in the Global Peace Index (GPI) 2018 compared with that of the last year.

Despite making improvements in two indicators -- political stability and terrorism impact -- the positive changes were offset by a large fall in 'external conflicts fought' and 'neighbouring countries relations', which stemmed from the sudden influx of 700,000 Rohingya refugees from neighbouring Myanmar, according to the latest report published in London today. 

Bangladesh has ranked 93rd out of 163 countries with a global score of 2.084 while in last year its position was 84th with the score of 2.035, according to the latest report of Global Peace Index (GPI) published in London today.

In the South Asia region, Bangladesh stood fourth behind Bhutan (1.545), Sri Lanka (1.954) and Nepal (2.053), relegating from last year's 3rd position.

However, Bangladesh's position is better than India (2.504), Pakistan (3.079) and Afghanistan (3.585).

The 12th annual 'Global Peace Index' prepared by Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), a Sydney-based independent non-profit think tank, scored 163 independent states and territories according to their levels of peacefulness.

The report has found that the global level of peace deteriorated by 0.27 percent in the last year, making the fourth successive year of deterioration. 

The GPI 2018 report has revealed a world in which tensions, conflicts, and crises that emerged in the past decade remain unresolved, especially in the MIddle East, while the United States and other world powers face political instability, resulting in this gradual, sustained fall in peacefulness. 

A total of 92 countries deteriorated while 71 countries improved between 2016 and 2017, according to the report. Syria, Afghanistan, South Sudan, Iraq and Somalia are the least peaceful countries in the world while Iceland, New Zealand, Austria, Portugal and Denmark are the most peaceful countries in the world.

Battle deaths have risen steadily over the last 10 years, increasing by 264 percent, the study finds.