We did this project as a part of our Bangladesh Studies course in Institute of Business Administration, Dhaka University. The objective of the study was to explore the country of Bangladesh and its people in relation to the Gross National Happiness Index developed by Bhutan. We also conducted our Happiness Survey based on a total of 28 criteria, 4 for each of the 7 factors, on 50 people. We have calculated a rating point based on the surveys.

1. Gnh
The Gross National
Happiness of Bangladesh
K202: Bangladesh studies
Bba 21st
Team 10
Section A

2. Tasmeem Farizma Mihika
RH 33
The team
Taosif Amin Khan
ZR 07
Shuvo Charles Gomes
ZR 21
Ayman Rahman
ZR 29
Sian Saad
ZR 39

3. “Happiness is the
meaning and the
purpose of life, the
whole aim and end of
human existence”
“If one speaks or acts
with a pure thought,
happiness follows
one, like a shadow
that never leaves”
“The happiness of the
drop is to die in the
river”
PHILOSOPHIES OF HAPPINESS
Aristotle Abraham
Maslow
“The story of the
human race is the
story of men and
women selling
themselves short”
Buddha Al-Ghazzali

4. 1975 2010 2012 2013 2013
GROSS NATIONAL HAPPINESS
UN Resolution for
GNH as the Chief
Development
Indicator
World Happiness
Report consisting
of 83 countries
published
Denmark topped
the list and
Portugal was
lowest
Idea coined by
Bhutan‟s 4th
Dragon King, Jige
Sigme Wangchuk
Current version
developed by
Center for
Bhutan Studies

5. Methodology
Secondary
source of Data
focus group
discussions
Informal
interviews
The happiness
survey

6. Economy Environment Education Society
Physical Health Mental Health Politics
The 7 sectors

7. economy

8. Household expenditure
per capita of $416
according to World
Bank in 2013
104th in the world0
100
200
300
400
500
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Household Expenditure
3.8
4
4.2
4.4
4.6
4.8
5
5.2
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Unemployment Rate
0
200
400
600
800
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Real GDP per Capita
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
2010 2011 2012 2013
Inflation
Our country has been
reducing poverty since
the year 2000 at a
rate of almost 2%
annually
Source: (i) World Bank Website (ii) BBS (iii) IMF

9. Employment satisfaction is low
especially among underemployed
Positive trends make people confident
but not happy with current state
All economic trends move in the
positive direction
Poverty and inequality seen as a
major barrier to improvement
Consumption quality is
seen as very low by most
Economic situation is one of the
major reasons for unhappiness
KEY FINDINGS

10. 5.8
4.6
6.4
4.85.4
People’s scores
Consumption Quality Employment Satisfaction
Economic Well Being
Poverty

11. environment

12. 0.28
0.3
0.32
0.34
0.36
0.38
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Percent of Carbon di oxide emission
0
5
10
15
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Electricity loss (% of generation)
Source: (i) World Bank Website (ii) WWF (iii) Greenpeace
18 17
33
0
10
20
30
40
Fish species,
threatened
Plant species
(higher),
threatened
Mammal species,
threatened
Endangered Species
CO2 Emission per
metric ton
increased due to
industrial
expansion
Mammals are the
most endangered
species among
others
11.02
11.04
11.06
11.08
11.1
11.12
11.14
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Forest Area (% of total Land)

13. Over 15,000 people died in the past
year due to air pollution
Air and water are the most polluted
sectors.
The staggering rate of endangered
species alarm the people.
200 tanneries situated at river banks
herm the water bodies the most
People are more responsable towards
conservation of energy.
The Disaster Management programs
are satisfactory
KEY FINDINGS

14. Natural Calamities Environmental Pollution
Biodiversity Conservation
7.9
6.1
5.4
5.86.3
Energy Conservation
People’s scores

15. education

16. 14.4
11.4 11.2 10.3 10.9
0
5
10
15
20
2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15
Percentage of total budget
54.9 60.2
70.3 73.8 78.6
0
20
40
60
80
100
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Primary education completion rate
Source: (i) BANBEIS - Bangladesh Bureau of Educational Information and Statistics (ii) World Bank Website (iii) UNESCO
43
35
40
24
0
10
20
30
40
50
pupil teacher ratio
Bangladesh India Pakistan Sri lanka
47.5
56.8 61.4
73.7
0
20
40
60
80
2000 2010 2015(Pro.) 2015(Exp.)
Adult literacy rate (15 years and older)
Coefficient of
efficiency
increased to
79.7% (2013)
from 62.2%
(2010)
GER rose to
108.6% (boys
106.8% girls
110.5%) in „13
from 104.4% in
„12

17. Dropout rate is still high
especially in poor households
More focus should be given on
stipend programs and infrastructure
The literacy rate and GER have
increased very positively over the years
The general population is skeptical of
student politics and thinks it is harmful
The recent question paper leaks
are an alarming sign
The Creative(Srijonshil) structure
is perceived as a positive step
KEY FINDINGS

18. Future Prospects Results in Public Exams
Quality of Education
7.7
4.8
6.6
7.36.6
Government Initiatives
People’s scores

19. society

20. 0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
1991 1995 2000 2005 2010
Income Held By Top 10%
3.80%
3.90%
4.00%
4.10%
4.20%
1991 1995 2000 2005 2010
Income Held by Bottom 10%
Source: (i) BBS (ii) Dhaka Metropolitan Police (iii) UNESCO
4.4
4.6
4.8
5
5.2
5.4
1995 2000 2005
National
Rural
Urban
Income inequality
is on a downward
trend resulting in
social
improvements
Average family size
has considerably
decreased over the
past 15 years
140000
150000
160000
170000
180000
190000
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Crimes throughout the years

21. High income inequality is among the
top social problems
Strong family values and strong
family unity among the people
Bangladeshi Culture- Festive, Joyous
and Colorful
Minorities rights are still not
ensured by the majority of society
Crime rate is on constant increase
over the past few years
Community bonding is a major
highlight of the society
KEY FINDINGS

22. Family Values Community Relationships
Culture
8.6
6.1
8.4
7.97.8
Social Security
People’s scores

23. Physical health

24. 0.8
0.9
1
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Healthcare expenditure (% of GDP)
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Contrast between private and public healthcare expenditure
Pubic healthcare expenditure (% of GDP)
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Personal Expenditure on healthcare (In USD)
0
5
10
15
20
25
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Food Imports (as a % of Merchandise)
Source: (i) BBS (ii) Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (iii) CIA Factbook

25. Food imports are
increasing everyday
Availability of nutrition is
improving constantly
Overall quality of public
healthcare is poor
Private healthcare > Public
healthcare
Healthcare expenditure by govt.
has increased.
KEY FINDINGS
Healthcare expenditure has
increased by 140%

26. Mental Health Perception of Healthiness
Access to Healthcare
7.4
6.2
4.3
5.35.8
Availability of Nutrition
People’s scores

27. Mental health

28. 421
496 544
619 685
763
842 862
958
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
GDP Per capita
Muslim
89.50%
Hindu
9.60%
Christian
0.30%
Buddhist
0.50%
Other
0.10%
6.34
8.63
7.85
6.97
Life Satisfaction Spirituality Positive Emotion Neagtive Emotion
Mental Health Variables
6.34
8.63
7.85
6.97
Life Satisfaction
Spirituality
Positive Emotion
Neagtive Emotion
Mental Health Vector
Source: (i) National Mental Health Institute (ii) Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (iii) CIA Factbook

29. KEY FINDINGS
People have relatively stable
mental health
Positive emotions > Negative
emotions
People are quite religious and
spiritual
Living standards are improving
due to growing GDP
People are not satisfied with
living standards
Happiness is an institute
of the mind

30. Negative emotion Spirituality
Life satisfaction
6.9
7.8
6.3
8.67.4
Positive emotion
People’s scores

31. politics

32. 0
20
40
60
80
100
2014 2008 2001
Voter Turnout
0
1
2
3
4
2014 2008 2001
Invalid votes (%)
Source: (i) BBS- Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (ii) Transparency International
2014
2013
2012
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
1 2 3
Corruption perception ranking
Voter Turnout
increased in
2008 but
decreased in
2014
The performance
of government in
IT reflected by the
increasing
number of
internet users.
0
2
4
6
8
2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
Number of internet user per 100

33. The fairness of election and selection
process is questioned
The rural population is more active in
elections than the urban mass
People are less enthusiastic about
political participation
Dissatisfaction prevails due to the
frequency of Strikes and Blockades
The peopulation are Happy about the
economic development of the country
The crime control by the government
is perceived to be low
KEY FINDINGS

34. 3.6
4.7
5.9
5.85.o
People’s scores
Judicial System and Law
and order
Accountability and
Performance
Participation by People
Political stability

35. 6.32
OVERALL RATING

36. Takeaways
People are more
dissatisfied with
the political
scenario
5
Societal factors
are the key
drivers of
happiness
4
Bangladeshi
people are easily
content with less
3
Happiness is more
spiritual than
material
2
Happiness is
highly subjective.
And cannot
always be
properly
calculated
1

37. THANK YOU!