The value of Bangladeshi passport has dropped down further as it now ranks 97th with a visa-free access to 38 countries, according to the latest rankings in the 2018 Henley Passport Index.

In 2017, Bangladesh ranked 90th.

The index was released in February 13 by Henley & Partners, a citizenship and planning firm. For the rankings, it takes into account how many countries can be visited without applying for a visa.

The ranking is based on an exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association, which maintains the world's largest database of travel information.

The latest index was based on 199 countries. Apart from Bangladesh, Lebanon, Iran and Kosovo also ranked 97th.

Singaporean and Japanese passport holders have more reasons to cheer as the latest rankings show that the two countries have jointly secured the top position with citizens of both the Asian nations now enjoying a visa-free access to a record 180 destinations, making their passports the most powerful ones in the world. The two countries have knocked Germany off the top spot as the world's most powerful passport as per the Henley Passport Index.

German passport holders now enjoy a visa-free access to 179 countries followed by France, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Finland, Sweden and South Korea with a visa-free access to 178 countries. 

Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Pakistan sit at the bottom of the list for the second year in a row, allowing a visa-free access to 30 or fewer countries. With a visa-free access to 24 countries, Afghan passport ranks 105th, the lowest position.

Singapore's and Japan's rise in the rankings comes after Uzbekistan lifted visa requirements for citizens of both the countries recently.

Apart from Japan, Singapore and South Korea, there is no other Asian country among the top ten nations. With a visa-free access to 169 countries, Malaysia ranks 11th globally along with Liechtenstein.

On the other hand, partly as a result of its recent visa-waiver agreement with the UAE, China has shown the most growth in its region compared to last year. China moved up 11 places. It now ranks 74th with a visa-free access to 64 countries.

The UK has dropped down to the 4th place. The country's citizens still enjoy a visa-free access to 177 destinations.

The US continues to hold the 5th place, offering its passport holders access to 176 destinations.

The UAE climbed upto 27th place after gaining entry to China and Ireland earlier this year. It now provides its citizens with a visa-free access to 140 destinations worldwide.

Asked, former ambassador Rashed Ahmed said the value of a country's passport depends on various factors such as its image abroad, corruption, democracy, militancy, terrorism and law and order situation.

Bangladesh's position centring the above issues is not satisfactory, he said.

The former diplomat also said Bangladesh's quality of diplomacy has deteriorated. The country has also failed to highlight its achievements abroad, he added.