BD continues to rank low in law and order

Bangladesh has ranked 127th out of 142 countries in global law-and-order index in 2024, according to a survey report, evidently as the year sees political upheavals.

This ranking has, however, remained unchanged since 2022. In 2021, the country ranked 124th.

The World Justice Project (WJP) Rule of Law Index is an annual survey that evaluates countries based on eight factors: Constraints on Government Powers, Absence of Corruption, Open Government, Fundamental Rights, Order and Security, Regulatory Enforcement, Civil Justice, and Criminal Justice.

In the 2024 edition of the report, Bangladesh scored particularly poorly in several categories: it ranked 134th in Fundamental Rights, 132nd in Civil Justice, and 122nd in Criminal Justice.

Additionally, the country ranked 121st in Constraints on Government Powers, 117th in Absence of Corruption, 107th in Open Government, 109th in Order and Security, and 124th in Regulatory Enforcement.

In South Asia, Nepal is the top performer, ranking 69th, followed by Sri Lanka at 75th, India at 79th, Myanmar at 138th, Pakistan at 129th, and Afghanistan at 140th.

However, Venezuela in Latin America stands last at 142nd in 2024.

The report indicates that many countries experienced a decline in their overall rankings for executive overreach, deteriorating human-rights conditions, and justice systems that fail to meet citizens' needs.

Among high-income countries, Denmark topped the rankings in the year under review, followed by Norway, Finland, Sweden, and Germany. The WJP Rule of Law Index is based on a conceptual framework developed by researchers in consultation with academics, practitioners, and community leaders worldwide.

As the leading source of independent rule-of-law data, the Index serves as a vital tool for promoting rule-of-law reforms, global development, and business investment.

It assesses a nation's adherence to the rule of law in practice, identifies strengths and weaknesses in comparison to similar countries, and tracks changes over time.

First piloted in Argentina, Australia, Colombia, Spain, Sweden and the United States in 2008, the WJP Rule of Law Index now includes 142 countries and jurisdictions.

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