Corruption is perceived on a rise in Bangladesh, as the Transparency International (TI) Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2014 showed that the country slipped two steps back from last year's ranking.
The TI Bangladesh (TIB) revealed the findings at a press conference at the National Press Club in the city on Wednesday, listing factors that contributed to the change of the country's position.
Bangladesh has scored 25 points on a scale of 0-100 and ranked 145th from the top and 14th most corrupt country from the bottom on a list of 175 countries surveyed.
Guinea, Kenya, Laos and Papua New Guinea remained at par with Bangladesh, each scoring 25.
Last year, Bangladesh's position was 136th from the top and 16th from below with 27 points.
The Berlin-based TI globally released the index, where Denmark stood as the least corrupt country in 2014 with a score of 92. North Korea and Somalia shared the last place, scoring just 8.
"Bangladesh's score (25) is much lower than the global average score of 43. Both in rank and score among the South Asian countries Bangladesh's position remains 2nd lowest, lower than all except Afghanistan," said TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman at the press briefing.
He finds the rise of corruption in the country alarming, and called upon the government to take a stricter position and effective measures in realizing its political commitment to combat corruption.
The TIB ED said Bangladesh is among 121 countries out of the 175, who scored below 50. However, no country could score cent pare cent out of the total 100 on board, which makes it clear that corruption is a global problem.
Among the South Asian countries, Bhutan stands on top of the ranking ladder (score 65, rank 30 from top). Afghanistan hits the bottom with a paltry score of 12, which is globally the third lowest after Sudan, which is the second lowest.
Save Bhutan, all of the South Asian countries have received much lower than the global average of 43.
Dr. Iftekharuzzaman observed Bangladesh's failure in the CPI has become severe because of its lower score than that of the previous year, which also is much lower than the global average.
"According to CPI 2014, score of 92 countries has increased, while it remained the same in 47 countries. Unfortunately, Bangladesh is among the 36 countries, whose scores have declined."
On the 0-100 scale of corruption-perception measurement, the courtiers scoring higher are perceived to be less corrupt, while the countries at the bottom are perceived to be exposed to higher level of corruption.
The data used in the CPI 2014 had been collected from February 2011 to August 2014.
The data for Bangladesh survey were taken from Economist Intelligence Unit - Country Risk Assessment, Global Insight Country Risk Ratings, International Country Risk Guide, World Bank - Country Policy and Institutional Assessment, World Economic Forum Executive Opinion Survey, World Just Project - Rule of Law Index, and Bertelsmann Foundation Transformation Index.
The TIB ED said there are many reasons for which Bangladesh's CPI score went down this year. Among these are deficits of delivery on anti-corruption pledges, attempts to curtail independence of the ACC, and deficits in bringing to justice those accused of corruption in various scams, like - Padma Bridge, railway, stock market, HallMark, Destiny and Sonali, and Rana Plaza disaster.
"Disproportionate accumulation of wealth, denial syndrome, unabated grabbing of land, river and water-bodies, loan default, contracting and recruitment business, politically-linked business opportunities, weaknesses of institutions of accountability, especially the parliament, conflict-of-interest issues, whitening of black money, and illicit financial transfers are important factors that pushed Bangladesh rank backward."
He also underscored that because of lack of proper understanding about CPI people of the country are blamed to be corrupt, which is not right.
"Majority of the people here are not corrupt, rather victims of corruption, and because of the failure of our leadership to fight against corruption of the powerful people they can never be blamed," the TIB ED commented.
Terming corruption an impediment to development, he said corruption is affecting all sectors in Bangladesh, and the corrupt people cannot be brought to justice.
TIB chairperson Sultana Kamal expressed concern over Bangladesh's position in the CPI 2014.
She said because of absence of a culture of accountability and pervasive corruption, poor people are suffering.
"We haven't noticed firm and visible action from the government to prevent corruption effectively."
"So the government should take the responsibility for failing to keep its political commitments," the TIB chairperson added.
Others present at the press conference include TIB Trustee Board members M Hafizuddin Khan and Dr. ATM Shamsul Huda, and deputy executive director Professor Dr. Sumaiya Khair.
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BD 14th most corrupt state in TI ranking
FE Report | Published: December 04, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
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