Bangladesh’s position in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) deteriorated, ranking 13th among the most corrupt nations globally out of 182 countries. The country previously held the 14th spot in the CPI 2024 but saw a one-point increase to a score of 24 this year.
According to Iftekharuzzaman, the executive director of Transparency International Bangladesh, Bangladesh’s score had been relatively consistent between 25 and 28 from 2012 to 2022. However, it dropped to 24 in 2023 and further decreased to 23 in 2024. Despite a slight uptick this year, trend analysis reveals that Bangladesh is currently two points below its 2012 level, marking the second-lowest score in the past 14 years.
While there was a brief surge in optimism following the July uprising and expectations of improved governance, subsequent data sources do not reflect significant changes in state and legal structures. The report highlights a lack of effective actions against corruption by the interim government over the past year and a half, with proposed reforms largely unimplemented, undermining independent anti-corruption efforts.
Among South Asian countries, Sri Lanka showed the most improvement with a three-point increase, while Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and the Maldives each gained one point. Bhutan and Afghanistan experienced a one-point decrease, and Nepal’s score remained unchanged. However, all South Asian countries, except Bhutan, scored below the global average, indicating pervasive corruption in the region.
Bangladesh’s score of 24 trails significantly behind the global and regional averages, standing 18 points below the global average and 21 points below the Asia-Pacific average. It also lags behind sub-Saharan African countries by eight points, signaling a critical situation. The TIB chief emphasized that full democracies achieve higher CPI scores compared to flawed democracies and authoritarian states, underscoring the effectiveness of democratic systems in combating corruption.
While Bangladesh faces challenges in controlling corruption, the TIB chief noted restrictions on civil society freedoms akin to authoritarian regimes. Addressing accountability-focused reforms, he called for comprehensive and sustainable changes to address ongoing issues like money laundering post-kleptocracy.
TIB clarified its role in publishing the CPI and detailed the data sources, including surveys from international institutions like the World Bank and the World Justice Project. In response to a query about the upcoming election, Iftekharuzzaman highlighted the need for political accountability and inclusivity, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging past actions and fostering public trust.
