Bangladesh moves 4 steps up on Democracy Index

According to the Economist Intelligence Unit, or EIU, Bangladesh has moved four places up in the latest Democracy Index, compared to the previous year.

Bangladesh is still classified in the "hybrid regime" category, which means that substantial irregularities often prevent the elections from being free and fair, according to the report by the research and analysis division of the Economist Group.

The report also includes "Government pressure on opposition parties and candidates may be common. Serious weaknesses are more prevalent than in flawed democracies -- in political culture, functioning of government and political participation. Corruption tends to be widespread and the rule of law is weak. Civil society is weak. Typically, there is harassment of and pressure on journalists and the judiciary is not independent," as part of its definition of a hybrid regime.

Last year, Bangladesh ranked 80th, with a score of 5.88.

Bearing 9.81 score, Norway topped the index again this year, while North Korea is still at the bottom, with a score of 1.08.