Bangladesh moves 4 notches down in press freedom index

Bangladesh has slipped four notches down in the World Press Freedom Index-2019 published by Paris-based Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

Bangladesh ranks 150th with a global score of 50.74 this year, according to the index published on Tuesday by RSF, an international non-profit and non-governmental organisation that conducts political advocacy on issues relating to freedom of information and freedom of the press.

In the previous year, it ranked 146th with a global score of 48.36.

Published every year since 2002 by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the World Press Freedom Index is an important advocacy tool based on the principle of emulation between states.

The Index ranks 180 countries and regions according to the level of freedom available to journalists.

Norway is ranked first in the 2019 Index for the third year running, with a score of 7.82, followed by Finland, Sweden, Netherlands and Denmark in the top five countries with press freedom.  

Among the neighbouring countries in the Asia-Pacific, India ranks 140th with a global score of 45.67, and down by two notches than in the previous year. Pakistan also slipped three notches this year to 142 with a score of 45.83, while Nepal’s position at 106th remained unchanged.

Turkmenistan is placed at the 180th position in the index, along with North Korea, Eritrea, China, and Vietnam in the bottom five.