Bangladesh has dropped one spot in the global index of internet freedom, scoring 40 out of 100 this year, down from 41 points in the previous year. As a result, Bangladesh continues to be categorized as "partially free" regarding internet freedom.
This data comes from the 2024 "Freedom on the Net" report, published by the US-based research institute Freedom House on Wednesday (October 16). Among South Asian countries, Bangladesh ranks just above Pakistan, which scored 27, while Sri Lanka leads the region with 53 points, followed by India at 50 points. Nepal, Bhutan, the Maldives, and Afghanistan were not included in the study.
How the index is measured
The Freedom House index evaluates countries based on three key indicators: barriers to internet access, content restrictions, and violations of user rights. A country scoring between 70 and 100 is classified as "free" on the Internet Freedom Index, while a score between 40 and 69 indicates "partially free," and a score below 40 falls into the "not free" category.
With 40 points, Bangladesh is in the "partially free" category, sharing its position with Iraq. The top-ranking country is Iceland, scoring 94, followed by Estonia (92), Chile (86), and Canada (86). Meanwhile, China and Myanmar rank lowest, both scoring 9 points.
Reasons for Bangladesh's decline
Experts suggest that Bangladesh's decline in internet freedom is linked to government actions during student protests in July and August. During this period, internet services were frequently shut down or slowed, stifling public dissent. Additionally, the establishment of the NTMC (National Telecommunication Monitoring Center) has raised concerns about the erosion of individual freedoms online.
IT expert Suman Ahmed Sabir noted, "Unwanted internet interference has always been present in Bangladesh, but this year the Awami League government went further than before, cutting off the country from the outside world by blocking access to social media platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube."
He added, "This likely contributed to Bangladesh's lower score in this study. The interim government should be cautious not to overreach, though efforts to combat cybercrime remain important."