Dhaka, May 20 -- Development is a multidimensional process transforming countries from low-income to high-income, sustainable economies. It includes economic growth (measured in terms of GDP), as well as improvements in living standards, human capabilities, health and nutrition, education, and institutional quality. Further, according to thinkers like the Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen, it emphasizes the expansion of human freedoms and equity.

In Asia, rapid economic growth occurred alongside both democracy and authoritarianism.While economic growth occurred under democracy in some countries like Japan and South Korea, high economic growth was achieved under authoritarian rule in China and Vietnam. Cambodia, an authoritarian one-party state,...