DHAKA, Sept 26: Bangladesh secured the fourth position out of 16 Asian countries in the Asia Democracy Index, prepared by the Singapore-based Alliance for Reform and Democracy in Asia.

In the overall ranking, Japan topped the list, followed by Hong Kong, Taiwan and Bangladesh. The other countries that were ranked are Philippines (5th), Thailand (6th), Indonesia (7th), Mongolia (8th), Sri Lanka (9th), South Korea (10th), Pakistan (11th), Cambodia (12th), Malaysia (13th), Nepal (14th), Singapore (15th) and Myanmar (16th). In the overall evaluation, Bangladesh’s score is 53.21 per cent.

The index was based on six aspects of democracy: civil rights, elections and political process, governance and corruption, media, rule of law, and participation and representation.

In civil rights and elections and political process, Bangladesh occupied the 9th position with percentage scores of 62.34 per cent and 45.14 per cent respectively. In governance and corruption, Bangladesh’s position is 6th with 43.35 percentage score.