That Bangladesh is world's 13th most corrupt country among the 182 states assessed by the Berlin-based Transparency International (TI) is disgraceful. Only more so because the improved ranking from 2006 to 2017 could not be maintained! The highest ever score for the country was 28 in 2017. During the period of 2001-2005, Bangladesh held the nightmarish distinction of emerging as the number one corrupt country in the world. Although the country's Corruption Perception Index (CPI) score has risen by one point from 23 in 2024 to 24 in 2025, it slipped one point behind. This is precisely because other countries have raised their scores higher and faster than Bangladesh. Thus the one point gain could not make its ranking better. But isn't this incongruous with the rule by an apolitical interim government?
Against the backdrop of momentous July-August events, the installation of a non-party government raised hope that the country would be able to root out the poisonous corruption from the government establishments. But what Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, Executive Director of the Transparency International, Bangladesh (TIB) divulged at the time of releasing the report is highly disconcerting. The one point gain is attributed to the expectation raised immediately after the fall of Hasina's kleptocratic regime for democratic and accountable governance.
The chief of the Bangladesh chapter of the Transparency International complains that there was hardly 'any substantial change in state or legal structures' following the overthrow of the authoritarian ruler. As far as graft is concerned, the government failed to act decisively to send the message of zero tolerance across the spectra of the public sectors. The TIB executive director further points out that proposals made by the 'Anti-corruption Commission (ACC) and other oversight institutions was ignored or left unimplemented'.
In this connection, the asset disclosure at the last moment by the advisers, including the chief adviser, and their spouses is quite intriguing. Had they taken the pains to do the same soon after taking over, their intention of non-tolerance of graft would be clear and indirectly send a clear message to corrupt government officials and employees. Instead such corrupt elements received a negative message. This is confirmed by the TIB chief's view that instead of money laundering coming to an end, the practice has rather been reinstated. The expectation of a corruption-free administration evaporated in to thin air.
This is not exactly what the warriors of July-August laid their lives for. Dr. Iftekharuzzaman holds entrenched quarters within the bureaucracy and powerful political groups responsible for stalling the process of reform to fight corruption. After all, old habits die hard. It must be added that the interim government's cabinet was no less responsible for bringing the situation to such a pass. One of the advisers, who himself was once a civil servant, was lamenting the other day that the bureaucracy is a spoiler and would not allow the government to function in a meaningful way. As senior and retired bureaucrats, they knew their class far better than anyone. Why did they allow the current bureaucrats prevail on them instead of themselves thwarting negative moves or dilly-dallying tactics? An opportunity to tame the intriguing bureaucrats was lost.
This loss will prove highly costly. Its reflection on the graft ranking is clear and getting rid of this awful practice in government offices will not be easy. Why the carcass of the albatross hung from the ancient mariner's neck as a symbolic sin has its equivalent here is clear. Like the dead albatross the continued second lowest CPI score in South Asia after Afghanistan and eight points lower than the Sub-Saharan region hangs from the nation's neck. No wonder that the country's ranking is 18 points lower than the global average of 42.
Now the question is, who the actual culprits are for inviting such demeaning status for the nation? Certainly not farmers, low-paid workers and a few rare breeds of educated people who have the opportunity to accept bribe, speed money or commissions but stay out of such underhand deals. It is some government employees with moderate education and well educated officials of higher echelon who make money left and right with scant regard for ethics and moral obligation. If the simple and little educated or unlettered people seek service at government offices, they are coerced to cough up bribes to appease the corrupt elements. Getting the service free of cost is their right but the intriguing employees and officials force them to pay bribe money. Wealth so accumulated ensures their social status and society has accepted this grumblingly and grudgingly.
Sure enough, the vast majority of the population do not deserve the dubious accolade of 'one of the most corrupt countries' for Bangladesh. If an interim government has failed to address the endemic problem of graft and the law and order, it is not just a problem with the public sector. The range and scope covers the private sector as well because private commerce and business have to seek approval, licences from the public sector authorities and pay taxes. Government tenders bring businesses and government bodies to a meeting point and manipulation of those happens when the narrow interests of both parties are served.
Had the bureaucracy been transparent, efficient and pro-people backed by their integrity, the lower ranked officials and employees did not have the nerve to ask for bribes from common people. The nation did not have to wear the carcass of the albatross round its neck. Before official announcement of a new pay package for the public sector officials and employees, there is a need for making the bureaucracy swear that they would clean the augean stables once and for all. If the next elected government can do so, the nation will remain ever grateful to it.
nilratanhalder2000@yahoo.com
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