The CIVICUS Monitor announced Wednesday that it has upgraded Bangladesh’s civic space rating from “Closed” to “Repressed” in its annual People Power Under Attack 2024 report.

The change reflects significant reforms by the interim government following widespread protests that led to the resignation of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024.

The improved rating acknowledges key actions taken by the interim administration, including the release of detained protesters and human rights defenders, the signing of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances, and the establishment of a commission to investigate cases of enforced disappearances.

Additionally, jail terms for two prominent human rights defenders from Odhikar were revoked.

Josef Benedict, Asia Pacific Researcher at the CIVICUS Monitor, commended the developments, stating, “Professor Muhammad Yunus and his interim government have opened a new chapter in the story of Bangladesh and its people.”

“The progress documented by the CIVICUS Monitor lifts up hope that by working with civil society, the interim government can undertake the legal and policy reforms needed to ensure the protection of fundamental freedom for all citizens regardless of their political leanings,” he said.

The CIVICUS Monitor, part of a global civil society alliance, tracks civic space conditions in 198 countries.

Using data collected from civil society groups, it evaluates factors such as protests, censorship, harassment, and arrests of human rights defenders to assign a rating on a scale from 0 to 100. Countries with higher scores exhibit more open civic spaces.

Bangladesh’s score improved by 4 points this year, rising from 20 to 24, which moved it out of the “Closed” category for the first time in years.

The People Power Under Attack 2024 report highlights these developments as an encouraging step toward greater civic freedom in the country.

Despite recent progress, Bangladesh must address critical issues to safeguard its civil society and ensure lasting reforms, according to the CIVICUS Monitor.

Among the top priorities are disbanding security units like the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), implicated in enforced disappearances and torture, and reforming the NGO Affairs Bureau to better support civil society.

Simplifying the Foreign Donations Law, which currently creates a bureaucratic maze for organizations seeking international funding, is also essential.

The interim government has been urged to implement stronger protections for journalists, including mechanisms to ensure they can work freely without fear of reprisal for expressing critical views or reporting on sensitive issues.

Press freedom groups have raised concerns about retaliation against journalists perceived as sympathetic to the previous regime.

Additional reforms include repealing restrictive laws, such as the Cyber Security Act 2023 and other provisions criminalizing defamation, and addressing past abuses by investigating cases of extrajudicial killings and excessive force by security forces.

"As Bangladesh continues writing a new chapter in its history, it must take steps to repeal restrictive laws, create an enabling environment for civil society and journalists, and ensure accountability for past human rights abuses," said Benedict.

"Bangladesh cannot move towards its future until it adequately confronts its past," he added.

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