TIB warns corruption remains deeply entrenched

Staff Reporter :

Bangladesh has recorded a marginal improvement in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), gaining one point and moving up one position globally, but the country continues to rank among the world’s most corruption-prone states, according to Berlin-based Transparency International.

The CPI 2025, released by Berlin-based Transparency International (TI), shows Bangladesh scoring 24 out of 100, up from 23 in 2024, and ranking 150th among 182 countries listed in ascending order.

The findings were presented at a press conference held on Tuesday in Dhaka as part of the global CPI 2025 release.

The event was moderated by TIB Director of Outreach and Communication Mohammad Tauhidul Islam. TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman outlined Bangladesh’s position and the broader implications of the index.

Despite the slight improvement, this remains the second-lowest score Bangladesh has registered in the past 14 years, since 2012.

However, this does not indicate substantial changes in the state and legal structures following the fall of authoritarian rule.

Over the past one and a half years, the interim government has failed to take effective and exemplary measures against corruption.

Moreover, due to the influence of the bureaucracy and various politically and otherwise powerful actors, as well as the neglect or non-implementation of reform proposals put forward by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and other relevant institutions responsible for combating corruption, these institutions have also failed to carry out their actual roles.

TIB said the marginal rise does not reflect any meaningful transformation in state institutions or the legal framework following the fall of authoritarian rule.

Instead, it reflects only the initial optimism generated by the July uprising, rather than concrete reform outcomes.

“From 2012 to 2022, Bangladesh’s CPI score fluctuated between 25 and 28,” Dr. Iftekharuzzaman said.

“In 2023 and 2024, the score fell consecutively by one point to 24 and 23. This year’s one-point increase to 24 still places Bangladesh two points below its 2012 score, making it the second-lowest result in 14 years.”

He noted that Bangladesh now ranks 13th among the lowest-scoring countries globally. “The increase reflects unrealised positive expectations for democratic and accountable governance that emerged during the July uprising.

However, it does not reflect the reality of the post-uprising reform process, as relevant data sources were not yet updated,” he said.

TIB was sharply critical of the interim government’s performance, stating that over the past one and a half years it has failed to take effective, exemplary action against corruption.

According to CPI 2025 data, Denmark tops the index as the least corrupt country with a score of 89, followed by Finland (88) and Singapore (84). South Sudan and Somalia rank lowest with 9 points each, followed by Venezuela (10) and Yemen, Libya, and Eritrea, all scoring 13.

Globally, the average CPI score stands at 42, the lowest in more than a decade. Of the 182 countries assessed, 122 scored below 50. Compared to 2024, 48 countries improved their scores, 68 declined, and 64 remained unchanged. Since 2012, 31 countries have shown improvement, while corruption levels have worsened in 50 countries.

Dr. Iftekharuzzaman said Bangladesh is among the countries that have failed to effectively control corruption. “This level of corruption is extremely alarming,” he said.

In South Asia, it ranks second-lowest after Afghanistan in both score and position. Bangladesh’s score of 24 is 18 points below the global average and 21 points below the Asia-Pacific regional average of 45.

Even compared to sub-Saharan Africa, widely regarded as the most corruption-prone region, Bangladesh’s score is eight points lower.

The CPI 2025 analysis also highlights a strong correlation between democratic governance, civic space, and corruption control. Fully democratic countries average a CPI score of 71, flawed democracies 47, and non-democratic countries 32. Countries with full civic space average 68 points, while those with no civic space score around 30.

“Based on these indicators, Bangladesh falls into the category of a non-democratic or authoritarian state with no civic space,” Dr. Iftekharuzzaman said.

He added that public expectations following the mass uprising remain unfulfilled and that the foundation for state reform is still weak.

“Sections of the bureaucracy and political parties are actively obstructing reform proposals necessary for accountability,” he said, urging political actors to abandon selective or partisan approaches to reform in favor of comprehensive, sustainable change.

“Although the kleptocracy has ended, money laundering has not stopped. In fact, it has been reinstated.”
In South Asia, five of the eight countries recorded score improvements in CPI 2025, ranging from one to three points. Sri Lanka showed the highest improvement, gaining three points and moving up 14 places.

Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and the Maldives each gained one point. Bhutan and Afghanistan saw their scores decline by one point, while Nepal’s score remained unchanged.

In terms of ranking changes, the Maldives and India improved by five places each, while Bangladesh moved up one place. Nepal fell two places, Pakistan one, and Afghanistan dropped four.

Bhutan’s ranking remained unchanged despite a one-point decline in score. Except for Bhutan, all South Asian countries scored below the global average of 42, underscoring the region’s persistent corruption challenges.

The CPI measures perceived corruption in the public sector on a scale from 0 to 100, where 0 indicates the highest level of corruption and 100 the lowest. No country has achieved a perfect score, indicating that corruption exists even in the best-performing states.