World Justice Project 2026: Bangladesh Advances in Rule of Law

Bangladesh has improved its position in the World Justice Project’s (WJP) 2026 Rule of Law Index, sending a positive signal about the country’s progress in upholding the rule of law. Bangladesh ranked 123rd among 143 countries and jurisdictions, up two places from 125th in the previous year. The improvement has raised hopes for progress in the justice system, government accountability and the effective enforcement of laws.

According to the organisation, Bangladesh’s overall score rose from 0.391 in 2025 to 0.393 in 2026. Although the increase was modest, it indicates some progress in the country’s international assessment. It also highlights the importance of sustained efforts to address longstanding challenges in good governance, corruption control and access to justice.

The latest ranking presents an important opportunity for the BNP government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. If the government takes effective measures to ensure transparency in governance, administrative accountability and equal application of the law, Bangladesh could improve its position further in international rankings. Alongside fulfilling its electoral pledges, strengthening the justice system and preventing irregularities in public institutions could play an important role in this regard.

However, Bangladesh continues to face challenges in several areas covered by the index. The country ranked 133rd in fundamental rights and 132nd in civil justice. These rankings indicate the need for further progress in protecting citizens’ rights, ensuring swift and accessible justice, and enforcing the law impartially.

Before attributing changes in international rankings to the achievements of any particular government, it is important to consider the period covered by the assessment.

The current government’s actual performance will therefore be judged by the extent of tangible improvements in judicial independence, corruption control, human rights protection and administrative accountability during its tenure.

According to legal experts, Bangladesh’s two-place rise in the Rule of Law Index points to positive possibilities. If the BNP government builds on this progress and intensifies its reform efforts, it could create opportunities to strengthen good governance at home and improve Bangladesh’s image internationally.