Bangladesh. Oodles of human rights issues, economic strife, and even environmental issues pose significant challenges for the developing country. But what makes it so bad… and what makes it good?
Today, we’ll be delving into one of the worst places to live in the world, with its capital, Dhaka, ranked #3 as the third least livable city in the world by The Economist Intelligence Unit’s 2025 Global Liveability Index. This poor ranking is due to a combination of factors, including overcrowding and substandard housing.
Assisting us throughout this investigation is Kana, one of the journalist’s close friends, who is living there for a period.
She reports that there is nearly nothing good about Bangladesh. There is one beach, the Bay of Bengal, however, and a “giant mangrove forest” called Sundarbans. She also speaks about a famous food in Bangladesh, titled “hilsa fish curry” and several restaurants and cafes in Dhaka that foreigners can go to. However, food there can have “germs, bugs, and stuff that is unexpected” so it is better to go to foods that are imported and sold at import markets.
The negatives. There are many, and Kana takes less time to think of them than the positives.
Air pollution is the first thing she lists. It’s the worst air quality globally, with particulate pollution levels significantly exceeding World Health Organization’s guidelines by more than fifteen times. The air quality, according to Kana, is best in the summers and worst in the winters and it is recommended that you wear a mask when you go outside. Particulate pollution has reduced the average life expectancy in Bangladesh by 6.9 years, reports Atlantic Council.
The second thing she lists is the protests. “Last year, the prime minister (Sheikh Hasina) was kicked out.” The political climate is generally dominated by the two major parties–the Awami League and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. Before the 2024 uprising, Bangladesh’s government faced criticism for restricting free expression. Rights groups even report that the government often restricts online and media expression. Journalists, bloggers, and activists have even been detained.
Finally, she speaks about the sidewalks. The sidewalks?!!! “Some are cracked and like the tiles are taken off.” This is a hazard for pedestrians, for safety reasons.
In summary, Bangladesh, while it does offer a bit of natural beauty, has much to work on, especially in air pollution, protests, and general livability.
