Bangladesh has been rated “Partly Free” in Freedom House’s 2025 Freedom in the World report, scoring 45 out of 100 amid an ongoing period of political transition following the ouster of the Awami League government.
The U.S.-based watchdog cited a “modest improvement” in the country’s civil liberties and political rights compared to the previous year, when Bangladesh was widely seen as slipping deeper into authoritarianism. The 2024 student-led uprising and the subsequent fall of Sheikh Hasina’s long-standing regime have ushered in what Freedom House called a “fragile but significant opening.”
The report praised the interim government’s initial steps to restore press freedom, reduce arbitrary arrests, and allow more open political activity. However, it also warned that these reforms remain “uneven and fragile,” with many structural abuses still intact.
“While the end of one-party dominance in Bangladesh offers hope, deep-rooted problems such as politicization of the judiciary, past election manipulation, and surveillance of dissent continue to undermine democratic progress,” the report said.
Bangladesh’s overall score of 45 — comprising 19 out of 40 in political rights and 26 out of 60 in civil liberties — puts it behind neighboring India (52/100) but ahead of Myanmar (9/100). The report notes that Bangladesh still lacks independent institutions strong enough to safeguard democratic accountability.
Freedom House also expressed concern over the role of security forces in the interim period, noting that while overt crackdowns have declined, there are lingering fears of political overreach and limited transparency in appointments and investigations.
The report’s release comes as Bangladesh prepares for general elections scheduled under the caretaker setup later this year. International observers, rights groups, and local civic bodies are watching closely to see whether this opening can translate into lasting democratic reform.
Analysts say that while the 2025 score may reflect some hope, it is more a “cautionary optimism” than a celebration.
“The fall of a strongman government doesn’t automatically lead to freedom,” said a South Asian democracy expert. “This score tells Bangladesh: you’ve stepped off the cliff-edge of autocracy — now climb carefully.”
