Bangladesh has witnessed the steepest decline in the 2024 Democracy Index published by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) on Thursday (27 February).
The country plummeted 25 places to 100th out of 167 nations.
While the country remains categorised as a hybrid regime, its position now leans closer to the lower end of the spectrum.
The report, released attributes Bangladesh’s significant drop to a "rigged election, the ousting of the prime minister, and political unrest."
The nation also recorded the most substantial decline in its overall score, falling by 1.44 points on the 0-10 scale.
Among South Asian countries, India ranked 41st, Bhutan 79th, Nepal 96th, Pakistan 124th, and Afghanistan remained at the bottom of the index at 167th.
The broader findings highlight a persistent decline in global democracy, with autocracies gaining ground.
"The world’s democracies are struggling," remarked Joan Hoey, director of the Democracy Index.
The EIU assesses five key criteria: electoral process and pluralism, civil liberties, government functionality, political participation, and political culture. Based on these factors, countries are classified into four categories - full democracies, flawed democracies, hybrid regimes, and authoritarian regimes.
This year’s index ranked Norway highest (9.81), while Afghanistan had the lowest score (0.25). Nine of the ten top-performing democracies are in Europe, with New Zealand being the only exception, securing second place.
Among the worst performers in 2024 were Pakistan, South Korea, Kuwait, Georgia, Qatar, Romania, and Guinea-Bissau.
The report highlights that during Bangladesh’s January 2024 general election, the then ruling party allegedly engaged in voter suppression, media restrictions, and electoral manipulation, intimidating opposition candidates to consolidate its hold on power.
However, despite these irregularities, grassroots movements—particularly youth-led initiatives—emerged as a formidable force, reflecting growing public disillusionment with mainstream political parties.
The protests that led to the ousting of Sheikh Hasina in August 2024 also exposed deep-seated sectarian tensions, with violent attacks against minority communities following the upheaval.
According to the EIU, Bangladesh’s interim government is under pressure to hold fresh elections but is prioritising institutional reforms aimed at restoring democratic norms. As a result, elections may be delayed beyond 2025.