Bangladesh moves 4 notches up on democracy index | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Epaper
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Banking
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Wednesday
May 28, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Epaper
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Banking
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2025
Bangladesh moves 4 notches up on democracy index

Bangladesh

Mohammad Ali
03 February, 2021, 03:30 pm
Last modified: 03 February, 2021, 10:29 pm

Related News

  • Bangladesh slips 25 notches in Democracy Index 2024
  • Democracy Index 2023: Bangladesh slips two notches to 75th position
  • Bangladesh goes up in democracy index amid BNP's uproar: Hasan
  • Bangladesh moves two notches up on democracy index
  • Bangladesh one notch up on Democracy Index

Bangladesh moves 4 notches up on democracy index

The country has also been categorised as 'hybrid regime' by EIU

Mohammad Ali
03 February, 2021, 03:30 pm
Last modified: 03 February, 2021, 10:29 pm

Bangladesh moved 4 notches up on the Economist Intelligence Unit's Democracy Index 2020, improving on the indicator of political culture from the previous year.

It has made progress when global democracy was in decline, with advanced democracies struggling to cope with disruptions to political and economic life brought about by the pandemic.

Bangladesh secured 76th position, among 167 countries, based on scores in five indicators – electoral process and pluralism, functioning of government, political participation, political culture and civil liberties.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

With an overall score of 5.99 on a scale of 10, Bangladesh is classified as a hybrid regime where substantial irregularities prevent elections from being free and fair, corruption tends to be widespread and the rule of law is weak, according to the EIU. A score of 10 would mean the best performance.

On the first democracy index released in 2006, Bangladesh was categorised as a flawed democracy with a score of 6.11. The following year, its status deteriorated to the category of hybrid regime and it has remained so ever since.  

Bangladesh improved its score on political culture to 5.63 in 2020 from 4.38 a year ago. Its score on electoral process and pluralism fell to 7.42 in 2020 from 7.83 in 2019. The scores on functioning of government and political participation remain unchanged at 6.07 and 6.11 respectively.

Former election commissioner Brig Gen (Retd) M Sakhawat Hossain said Bangladesh's score on election process and pluralism fell because no recent polls had been conducted properly.

Referring to the latest municipal elections, he said there had been no level-playing field ahead of the polls. "We saw differences between the results of voting by ballots and through electronic voting machines, which indicated manipulation of the election."

Only good intension of the government can improve the prevailing electoral culture.

How others are doing in South Asia

Bangladesh lags behind India having an overall score of 6.61.

Of the other South Asian nations, Sri Lanka ranked 68th as a flawed democracy. Bhutan did worse than Bangladesh at 84th position. Pakistan is further down on the index at 105th position as a hybrid regime, while Afghanistan that ranked 139th on the index is classified as an authoritarian regime.

Majority people live in flawed democracies

According to the democracy index report, only about half (49.4%) of the world's population live in a democracy of some sort in 75 countries.

Only 8.4% of the world's population live in 23 countries defined as full democracy.

More than one-third (35.6%) of the global population live under authoritarian rule, with a large share being in China.

And 15% of the world's population live in hybrid regimes -- 35 countries including Bangladesh.

Asia did worse but Nordic countries on the top of the index

Asia's overall score fell in 2020, but it now has five "full democracies", of which Japan, South Korea and Taiwan did better than 2019.

Japan and South Korea were classified as full democracy for the first time since 2014.

Despite these advancements, Asia's average regional score dropped to its lowest since 2013, because some of the measures taken to contain the pandemic led to infringement of individual freedom and civil liberties, according to the EIU.

Asian continues lag behind the West in democratic terms having only five 'full democracies', compared with western Europe's 13, but the region has, so far, handled the pandemic much better than virtually any other, with lower infection and mortality rates and a fast economic rebound, said Joan Hoey, editor of The Economist Intelligence Unit.

Like many other global rankings, the Nordic countries dominate the democracy index; Norway tops the index, followed by Iceland and Sweden, as in the previous year.

USA retained its "flawed democracy" status

On the other hand, the land of democracy the United States ranked 25th scoring 7.92. It fell under the category of flawed democracy, enduring rising polarisation and declining social cohesion.

The US's performance across several indicators changed in 2020, both for better and worse.

The 13th edition of the Democracy Index highlights how global democracies fared in 2020. The report focused on the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on democracy and freedom around the world.

Top News

Economist’s Intelligence Unit (EIU) / Democracy Index

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Leaders and activists of BNP gather at Nayapaltan ahead of the rally of three BNP affiliated organisations on Wednesday, 28 May 2025. Photo: Rajib Dhar/TBS
    ​​​​​​​Deliberate stalling of election part of plan to derail democratic process: Tarique at BNP rally
  • File Photo: Reuters
    Bangladeshi cos expecting increased costs due to tariffs, yet extremely optimistic about int'l growth: HSBC survey
  • Photo: Collected
    HC overturns graft convictions of Tarique, Zubaida

MOST VIEWED

  • Selim RF Hussain. Sketch: TBS
    BRAC Bank MD Selim RF Hussain resigns
  • Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur. TBS Sketch
    Depositors need not worry as govt will take over banks before merger: BB governor
  • Graphics: TBS
    Suspicious banking activities surge by 56% since July: Cenbank
  • Photo: Collected
    DU student assaulted for protesting eve-teasing at Chadni Chowk
  • Illustration: TBS
    Bangladesh sees highest-ever per capita income of $2,820 in FY25, BBS provisional data shows
  • Officials protest inside the Secretariat on Tuesday, 27 May 2025, over a government ordinance amending the Public Service Act, 2018. Photo: Rajib Dhar
    Protest at Secretariat suspended as govt assures decision on ordinance tomorrow

Related News

  • Bangladesh slips 25 notches in Democracy Index 2024
  • Democracy Index 2023: Bangladesh slips two notches to 75th position
  • Bangladesh goes up in democracy index amid BNP's uproar: Hasan
  • Bangladesh moves two notches up on democracy index
  • Bangladesh one notch up on Democracy Index

Features

In recent years, the Gor-e-Shaheed Eidgah has emerged as a strong contender for the crown of the biggest Eid congregation in the country, having hosted 600,000 worshippers in 2017. Photo: TBS

Gor-e-Shaheed Boro Maath: The heart of Dinajpur

1d | Panorama
The Hili Land Port, officially opened in 1997 but with trade roots stretching back to before Partition, has grown into a cornerstone of bilateral commerce.

Dhaka-Delhi tensions ripple across Hili’s markets and livelihoods

2d | Panorama
Photo: Collected

Desk goals: Affordable ways to elevate your study setup

3d | Brands
Built on a diamond-type frame, the Hornet 2.0 is agile but grounded. PHOTO: Asif Chowdhury

Honda Hornet 2.0: Same spirit, upgraded sting

3d | Wheels

More Videos from TBS

Poor documentation, evidence plague stolen asset recovery efforts

Poor documentation, evidence plague stolen asset recovery efforts

35m | TBS Insight
Donald Trump warns Vladimir Putin he is 'playing with fire' over Ukraine

Donald Trump warns Vladimir Putin he is 'playing with fire' over Ukraine

1h | TBS World
Families of those injured and martyred in the July coup protest in the capital

Families of those injured and martyred in the July coup protest in the capital

2h | TBS Today
Trump administration suspends student visas in the US indefinitely

Trump administration suspends student visas in the US indefinitely

2h | TBS World
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net