Bangladesh has ranked 73 out of 100 nations in the global cyber security index measured by UK-based National Cyber Security Index (NCSI). 

The NCSI put the countries in the ranking after measuring their preparedness to prevent fundamental cyber threats and readiness to manage cyber incidents, crimes and large-scale cyber crises. 

The NCSI website has recently published the index of 100 countries. France has been placed on top of the ranking with a score of 83.12 while Germany and Estonia ranked 2nd and 3rd securing scores of 83.12 and 81.82 respectively. 

Bangladesh is ahead of some South Asian countries like Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Nepal and Bhutan in ranking securing score of 25.97. Sri Lanka has ranked 77 with a score of 23.38, while Indonesia, Nepal and Bhutan ranked 83, 92 and 93 respectively scoring 19.48, 12.99 and 12.99 respectively.

NCSI evaluated Bangladesh's cyber security platform BGD e-Gov CIRT implemented by Leveraging ICT for Growth, Employment and Governance (LICT) Project of Bangladesh Computer Council under ICT Division and incorporated Bangladesh in the list of global cyber security index.

LICT Project Director Md Rezaul Karim said Bangladesh has already achieved response capability of Computer Security Incident Response Teams (CSIRT) to mitigate the targeted cyber-attacks through a cyber-drill conducted by Organization of Islamic Cooperation-Computer Emergency Response Teams (OIC-CIRT).

Deputy Project Director of LICT Project Tarique M Barkatullah said the NCSI was developed based on identification of evolving cyber threats, identification of cyber security measures and capacities, selection of important and measurable aspects including legal acts, regulations, policies, exercises, technologies, websites and programmes.

The BGD e-Gov CIRT has an expert team to mitigate cyber threats and cybercrimes and the members of the team have achieved global certifications.

Tarique said the BGD e-Gov CIRT has already built capacity and proved its efficiency to face cyber threats and mitigate cybercrimes that have become a global concern, said a press release.