Bangladesh has shown improvement in the Global Freedom Index compared to 2023. While the country’s score was 40 in 2023, it has risen to 45 this year. This improvement places Bangladesh among the top four countries with the most progress in the 2024 Freedom Index. The other three countries are Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Syria.
These details were shared in the annual report released by the US-based democracy research organization, Freedom House, on Wednesday. According to Freedom House, their annual “Freedom in the World” index reported a global decline in freedom last year, with authoritarian rulers strengthening their control. However, several countries in South Asia have seen a glimmer of hope in terms of practicing freedom.
The report states that in 2024, among 208 countries ,regions ,globally, 60 saw a decline in political rights & civil liberties. Meanwhile, only 34 countries and regions showed improvements in the exercise of these two rights. The countries with the largest declines in their scores last year were El Salvador, Haiti, Kuwait, Tunisia.
On the other hand, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Syria recorded the highest improvements. These countries have made progress in political and civil liberties. The Freedom House report notes that Bangladesh is still categorized as a “partly free” country when it comes to political rights & civil liberties.
In 2023, Bangladesh scored 40 out of 100 on the Global Freedom Index, and despite improvements in the 2024 score, the country has not moved out of the “partly free” category. Last year, Bangladesh’s score rose to 45.
The report from the US-based research organization, Freedom House, suggests that Bangladesh could become a bright example for democracy this year. This potential stems from the fact that after the fall of the ruling Awami League, led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, new leaders have taken charge of the country. However, whether the country’s status in the index improves will depend on whether the government can effectively implement reforms, guarantee personal freedoms, uphold the rule of law.
Freedom House points out that after over 15 years of authoritarian rule under Sheikh Hasina, it will be a difficult task to introduce political reforms in Bangladesh. Unlike in other parts of the world, changes in Bangladesh came as a result of mass movements. In July of the previous year, students began peaceful protests against quotas in government jobs.
As the protests intensified, the police attempted to suppress them violently, resulting in the deaths of over 1,500 individuals. Amid this unrest, in August, Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country. Following her departure, an interim government was formed under the leadership of economist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus.
The report highlights the importance of the next steps in Bangladesh’s democratic journey, noting that the future direction of political and civil liberties in the country will depend on the new leadership’s commitment to reforms, ensuring the freedoms of its citizens.
According to Freedom House, following the ousting of the Awami League government led by Sheikh Hasina, there has been a notable reduction in the long-standing state pressure on various political parties, media outlets, trade unions, judges, university students, and faculty members. This shift has contributed to significant improvements in Bangladesh’s score on the Global Freedom Index in recent years.
The report also mentions that the interim government has focused on organizing elections, reducing rising religious tensions, stabilizing the economy, and holding Sheikh Hasina accountable for her actions. Efforts have been initiated to bring Sheikh Hasina, who is currently residing in neighboring India, back to Bangladesh to face legal proceedings.
Yana Gorokhovskaya, a co-author of the report, told AFP that there has been a global decline in the quality of freedom for 19 consecutive years. However, 2024 was especially unstable, as several countries held elections during the past year.
She further emphasized that Bangladesh, Syria have experienced immediate improvements in civil liberties. However, she noted that both countries still have a long way to go in achieving political representation and full democratic freedom.
In the latest Freedom House list, India saw a decline. The US-based research organization classified India as “partly free,” with a score of 63 in 2023, down from 66 the previous year.
The report also highlighted that four countries experienced the most significant decline in the 2024 freedom index: El Salvador, Haiti, Kuwait, and Tunisia. El Salvador, classified as “partly free,” had a score of 47, while Tunisia scored 44. Haiti, classified as “not free,” had a score of 24, Kuwait scored 31.
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