Iqbal Mahmood Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Chairman Iqbal Mahmood sought clarification from Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) on Tuesday on its methodology in measuring corruption and specific reasons of increased graft.
"We always welcome such reports, but they (TIB) should clarify their methodology and specifically underline the causes of increasing corruption in the country, otherwise the report will not be accepted," he said in reply to a query from journalists about Bangladesh's position in the latest Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2018.
Bangladesh has slipped six steps in the CPI-2018, reflecting the country's poor performance in preventing corruption.
It scored 26 out of 100, standing at 149th position among 180 countries covered by the index, globally prepared by Berlin-based Transparency International (TI). In the previous CPI, Bangladesh's position was 143rd.
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), local chapter of the TI, disclosed the CPI outcomes at a press briefing held at its Dhanmondi office on the day.
While talking about the latest report at the ACC headquarters in the capital, Mr Mahmood said, "Earlier, we told TIB to inform us about the methodology they have been using to measure corruption, they must have analytics, facts and figures."
"The report hasn't yet reached us. When it will come, we will look into it," he said, adding, "Anyone can publish 'mouth-filling' reports but you have to disclose the identity of those government officials or politicians who are involved in corruption."
"The identity of those who are responsible for siphoning off funds abroad should be revealed by them (TI). If not how would we catch or find out someone in the big ocean," the ACC chief said.
If the TIB report has no analytics, facts and figure, it will not be accepted, he added.
He also asked TIB to explain as to why, how and for what reasons corruption has increased in the country.
In response to another question about the TIB's findings of declining power of state bodies fighting corruption, the ACC chairman said no law was passed in parliament that cuts the power of the commission.
When his attention was drawn to money laundering of at least US$5.90 billion from Bangladesh in 2015 unveiled by Washington-based Global Financial Integrity (GFI), Mr Mahmood said, "Money laundering is happening all around the world, we can't stop it but can reduce the volume."
From the bottom of the tally of CPI 2018, Bangladesh stood at 13th position in contrast with the CPI 2017 when the position was 17th with scoring 28 from the bottom.
In South Asia, Bangladesh is ahead of only Afghanistan in the latest CPI and falls among the region's only two countries - the other is Maldives - which have seen a decline in its score. Pakistan stayed three steps ahead of Bangladesh.
The index measured corruption of 180 countries where Somalia secured the bottom position while Denmark emerged as the least corrupt country in the index.
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