Bangladesh has pipped India to secure the top spot among South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) nations in the National Cyber Security Index (NCSI).

Bangladesh currently occupies the 38th position among 160 countries with a score of 59.74 in the latest index published on the NCSI website.

India is 39th - one rung below Bangladesh in the rankings - scoring 59.74.

The NCSI has been created to assess a country’s preparations to prevent basic cyber attacks. The index takes into account cyber cases, crimes, and major crisis management activities.

Among other South Asian countries, Sri Lanka ranks 69th, Pakistan 70th, Nepal 98th and Bhutan 116th.

Conflict-ridden Afghanistan comes way down at 133rd with a  paltry score of 11.69.

Bangladesh has moved 27 notches up in the NCSI rakings given by the Estonia-based e-Governance Academy Foundation this year.

Bangladesh was ranked 65th in the December 2020 index.

Bangladesh e-governance  Project Director Tarique M Barkatullah, who has been working on the cyber security of the Bangladesh government, said the country's capability in cyber security is increasing day by day, and thus gaining global recognition.

"The BGD e-Govt CIRT is working tirelessly on cyber security. Such recognition will only encourage us to prevent cyber attacks and help increase Bangladesh's capability in cyber security," he added.

Greece has taken the global top position with a score of 96.10.

The Czech Republic stood second with a score of 92.21, followed by Estonia, which scored 90.91.

The US ranks 17th in the index, while the UK ranks 19th.

Singapore, 19th, is the only Asian country making it to the top 20.

(SAM)