The next government must not ignore the widespread corruption still persists
Bangladesh has ranked 13th among the world’s most corrupt countries in 2025, from 14th position in 2024, as per the Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CIP).
A minor improvement in score and the slip in position underscore a bitter truth that as a nation, we remain trapped in a cycle of dishonesty and dysfunction.
Expressing concern over the overall situation, the TIB while releasing the CIP on Tuesday termed the score as extremely disappointing, adding: Bangladesh now remains the second lowest among eight South Asian countries and the fourth lowest among 32 countries of the Asia-Pacific region.
It is among 122 countries that have scored below 50 and is considered to have a ‘serious corruption problem’.
The graft watchdog further said Bangladesh’s result contrasts poorly with that of many countries that earlier had comparable or even lower scores than Bangladesh’s, that is, Nepal, Laos, Vietnam, Timor-Leste, Ukraine, Angola, and Sri Lanka (recently), but successfully managed to improve their CPI standing.
Mentionable that Bangladesh has been ranking as the most corrupt country in the index from 2001 to 2005.
It is particularly sad that even under the leadership of Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, whose global reputation rests on integrity and innovation; we have failed to make meaningful progress in this long-standing battle against corruption.
While we must always acknowledge the vast challenges this administration faced from the very beginning of its formation, we are forced to conclude that despite all the promises, the interim government has largely squandered a rare opportunity to set an example of transparency.
Instead of ushering in reforms, it willingly or unwillingly allowed entrenched practices to persist.
Ultimately, this has left general people even more disillusioned, and the nation’s image further stained.
Corruption affects every single Bangladeshi, robbing the poor of dignity, denying the young their future, and eroding trust in every institution meant to serve the people.
The sorrow lies not only in where we stand today, but in the realization that we could have done better.
We had a chance to change the narrative, to prove that honesty and accountability could guide governance.
With parliament elections over, the next government must treat this as a national emergency issue.
We must confront the reality that corruption continues to corrode the very foundations of our democracy and development.
Bangladesh continuing to be defined by its corruption is a humiliation for the entire nation that cannot be ignored.