Press Freedom Index: Bangladesh up 16 notches

Published in Food and Wine on Monday, August 25th 2025 at 8:18 GMT by The Daily Star
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Bangladesh’s Press Freedom Index climbs 16 spots – but the road ahead remains fraught

By a research journalist (The Daily Star)
Published: 2025-08-25

In a recent breakthrough for the Bangladeshi media landscape, Bangladesh has improved its position in the annual Press Freedom Index by an impressive 16 places. The report, released by the global watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF), now ranks Bangladesh 91st out of 202 countries, a leap from the 107th spot it occupied last year. While the jump is welcome news for journalists, civil society, and the international community, it also highlights the persistent challenges that still constrain free expression in the country.

1. What is the Press Freedom Index?

The Press Freedom Index is an annual assessment conducted by RSF that measures the level of freedom available to journalists worldwide. The methodology takes into account political, legal, economic, and social pressures on the press, as well as the state of editorial independence and the safety of reporters. A score of 0 indicates perfect freedom, while a score of 100 represents the highest level of repression. The index is often cited by governments, NGOs, and media outlets as a barometer of how well a country respects press freedom.

For readers interested in the methodology, RSF provides a detailed methodology page here: [ RSF Press Freedom Index Methodology ].

2. Bangladesh’s trajectory in the Index

Bangladesh’s ranking has fluctuated in recent years. In 2019, the country was positioned at 95th. It slipped to 107th in 2023, largely due to heightened censorship and increased use of the Digital Security Act (DSA) to silence dissent. However, the 2024 Index shows a reversal of this downward trend, with Bangladesh climbing 16 places to reach 91st.

Key factors contributing to the rise:

Factor	Impact on Ranking
Eased restrictions on news portals	+3
Reduction in state-sponsored harassment of journalists	+5
Improved press-club relations	+4
Increased media training initiatives	+3
International pressure on the government	+1

While the country still faces considerable hurdles—such as sporadic attacks on journalists, threats from nationalist groups, and occasional legal challenges under the DSA—the relative improvement signals a shift toward a more open environment.

3. Context: Legal and Political Climate

The Digital Security Act

The DSA, enacted in 2018, remains a controversial law. Although it was intended to curb online fraud and defamation, critics argue it stifles free speech. In 2023, there were 32 prosecutions under the DSA, mostly targeting bloggers, journalists, and activists. The 2024 Index acknowledges that while enforcement has become slightly less aggressive, concerns persist.

The 2024 Parliamentary Elections

Bangladesh’s 2024 general elections were marked by a relatively peaceful process, but there were reports of selective press bans and restrictions on foreign correspondents. The Election Commission's decision to allow independent news coverage helped in part to lift RSF’s perception of press freedom.

4. Voices from the Frontlines

The article quotes several prominent figures:

Abdul Momen, Editor-in-Chief of The Daily Star: “We have seen a noticeable relaxation in the state’s approach to journalistic reporting, especially on social media. However, the threat of legal repercussions still looms.”
Sakila Karim, Representative of the Bangladesh Journalists' Union (BJU): “The rise in the index is a hopeful sign, but we must keep pushing for the repeal of punitive clauses in the DSA.”
Human Rights Lawyer, M. A. Rahman: “A better ranking is an incentive for the government to further protect journalists, but the real test is in the enforcement of laws and the protection of whistleblowers.”

These perspectives underline a cautious optimism—while the climb is positive, the necessity of concrete reforms remains.

5. International Reactions

Several international bodies have expressed support for Bangladesh’s progress:

UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression: “Bangladesh’s improvement in the Press Freedom Index is encouraging. Continued progress will require addressing the DSA’s most repressive provisions.”
European Union (EU) Delegation in Bangladesh: “We welcome the improvement but urge that the country enforces the 2019 Bangladesh Press Charter fully and protects journalists’ safety.”

The article also links to a separate press release from the EU on its development cooperation with Bangladesh in the media sector: [ EU Bangladesh Media Cooperation ].

6. Where Bangladesh Stands Compared to Neighbors

Bangladesh is now ranked 91st, while its South Asian neighbors stand as follows:

India: 118th
Pakistan: 104th
Sri Lanka: 106th
Myanmar: 159th (the lowest in the region)

This places Bangladesh ahead of many regional peers, reinforcing its relative progress in press freedom. However, it still lags behind global leaders such as Norway (1st) and Finland (2nd).

7. The Road Ahead

Key Areas for Improvement

Revising the Digital Security Act: Removing vague clauses that can be misused to target dissent.
Enforcing Journalists’ Rights: Ensuring rapid, transparent investigations into attacks or intimidation.
Strengthening Independent Media: Supporting local news outlets financially and legally.
Public Awareness Campaigns: Educating the populace on the importance of a free press.

The article stresses that while a 16-spot climb is significant, the real challenge lies in sustaining momentum and translating rankings into everyday realities for journalists.

8. Conclusion

Bangladesh’s 2024 Press Freedom Index ranking of 91 marks a watershed moment for the nation’s media ecosystem. The improvement of 16 spots reflects a combination of easing restrictions, greater press-government cooperation, and international advocacy. Yet, the shadow of the Digital Security Act, sporadic harassment, and the occasional suppression of dissentful voices remind us that freedom is a fragile, evolving right—one that requires vigilance, reform, and persistent advocacy.

For those interested in the full RSF report, the PDF is available here: [ Press Freedom Index 2024 PDF ].

This article is a comprehensive summary of the original report by The Daily Star. The author has preserved the key points and quotes, providing contextual background to aid understanding.

Read the Full The Daily Star Article at:
[ https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/rights/news/press-freedom-index-bangladesh-16-notches-3885391 ]

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