Bangladesh has fallen three places to 152nd out of 180 countries in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index, as reported by The Business Standard. The country’s media faced renewed repression after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina regime, leading to potential economic consequences. The report highlighted that Bangladesh is now categorized as “very serious,” down from 149th place in 2025.
The media in Bangladesh, which anticipated more freedom post the Hasina regime’s downfall, encountered further restrictions. Some news outlets and journalists were labeled as supporters of the previous regime, facing challenges in their work. The report noted a significant decline in tolerance towards critical journalism, coupled with pressure from political entities and insufficient backing for media accountability.
The report emphasized the historical correlation between press restrictions and economic repercussions, citing studies indicating that limitations on press freedom could reduce real gross domestic product growth by 1 to 2 percent. Additionally, it pointed out that press freedom plays a crucial role in ensuring financial stability. Countries with higher press freedom levels are more likely to cultivate environments that deter corruption, thereby safeguarding banking sector stability.
Experts underscored the watchdog role of a free press in curbing corruption by exposing abuses of power, acting as a deterrent against malpractices. The report outlined various challenges faced by the media during Hasina’s regime, including censorship, cyber harassment, pressure from military intelligence services, judicial intimidation, stringent laws, police brutality, and assaults by ruling party militias.
On a global scale, countries like Norway, the Netherlands, Estonia, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland consistently rank higher in press freedom and are also among the least corrupt nations on the Corruption Index.
