Corruption in Bangladesh still a huge concern: TI
Country ranks 139th from top
STAFF REPORTER
Berlin-based international anti-graft watchdog, Transparency Internationals global survey has revealed that Bangladeshs score in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) is not satisfactory and that magnitude of corruption still remains be a major concern.
In 2015, Bangladesh ranked 139th from the top and 13th from the bottom among 168 countries/territories as compared to 145th from the top and 14thfrom the bottom in 2014 among 175 countries/territories. In 2013, the country ranked 136th from the top and 16th from the bottom. Transparency Internationalsglobal survey further revealed that while Bangladesh scored 25 out of 100 points in both 2015 and 2014, it scored 27 out of 100 points in 2013.
CPI 2015 was unveiled by Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) at a press conference at its Midas Centre office in the capital yesterday.
According to the survey, multiple factors, including deficit in effectiveness and independence of the Anti-Corruption Commission; high-profile corruption i.e. Destiny, Rana Plaza, Sonali Bank, Basic Bank and share market; illicit accumulation of wealth and bribery publicly condoned and black money encouraged; and high, unabated rate of illicit financial transfers are responsible for Bangladeshs poor ranking on the CPI scale.
As per the TI survey, Denmark is the least corrupt country with 91 points followed by Finland and New Zealand with 90 and 89 points, respectively. Somalia and North Korea are the most corrupt with a score of 8 points each, followed by Afghanistan with 11 points.
TI said corruption remains a serious global problem, with no country scoring 100 points on the CPI scale, 114 out of 168 countries scoring below 50 points, and 107 countries scoring less than the global average of 43 points.
Further, 18 out of 27 countries in Asia-Pacific have scored less than the global average of 43 points. Compared to 2014, last year, 65 countries scored more, 54 countries scored the same while 49 countries scored less. Barbados, Bahamas, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Puerto Rico, Dominica, Samoa and Swaziland are not included in CPI 2015.
Among South Asian countries, both in terms of rank and score, Bangladeshs position remains second lowest, better than only Afghanistan. Bhutan is the least corrupt country in South Asia with 65 points, followed by India and Sri Lanka with 38 and 37 points, respectively.
Pakistan scored 30 while Nepal scored 27 points in CPI 2015. All South Asian countries except Bhutan have scored less than the global average of 43. Sharing the 13th slot from the bottom with Bangladesh are Guinea, Laos, Kenya, Papua New Guinea, and Uganda.
For five successive years from 2001 to 2005, Bangladesh stood at the very bottom. In 2006, it stood third; in 2007, seventh; in 2008, 10th; in 2009, 13th; 2010, 12th; 2011 and 2012, 13th. Countries that scored lower than Bangladesh are: Myanmar (22), Burundi (21), Cambodia (21), Zimbabwe (21), Uzbekistan (19), Eritrea (18), Syria (18), Turkmenistan (18) and Yemen (18).
Attending the press conference were TIB Chairperson Advocate Sultana Kamal, Trustee Board member M. Hafizuddin Khan, and Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman.
Dr Iftekharuzzaman said that political will along with evidence of practical application is necessary to curb corruption. He further said that a multitude of factors are responsible for Bangladeshs poor score. He added that the governments failure to fulfill its pledge to fight corruption; lack of professionalism and moral courage on the part of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC); curtailing independence of ACC; grabbing of land, rivers, water bodies; loan default; and contracting and recruitment business have resulted in Bangladesh faring badly on the CPI scale.
In his presentation, Dr Iftekharuzzaman said, The corrupt have to be brought to justice without fear or favour. The strengthening and effectiveness of institutions like parliament and ACC is necessary for curbing corruption. He suggested measures for curbing corruption including professional integrity and impartiality of public service, administration and law enforcement agencies.
Access to information has to be ensured so that people know the sources of public money and how it is spent, he said. He further suggested greater avenues for citizens, media, civil society and NGOs to voice their opinions and demand accountability. We are not satisfied with the position. We have potential to do better, he said.
Sultana Kamal said, Though Bangladesh has become a lower middle income country, we have to see whether corruption is declining along with development. It should be noted whether people are enjoying the benefits of democracy. If democracy is not properly implemented, people will not get the results of development. The government has to ensure that people enjoy the fruits of development with safety.
Replying to a query, she said, It has to be seen how the parliament is using time and what is being discussed there. We dont see debates on formulation of law. Rather, different matters are discussed.
Bangladeshs rating in CPI 2015 is based on findings gathered from seven globally-reputed survey sources. No data generated by any of TIs local chapters has been considered for analysis and global rating.
Surveys used for Bangladesh include World Bank Country Policy and Institutional Assessment 2014, World Economic Forum Executive Opinion Survey 2015, Bertelsmann Foundation Transformation Index 2016, World Justice Project Rule of Law Index 2015, Political Risk Services International Country Risk Guide 2015, Economist Intelligence Unit Country Risk Ratings 2015, and Global Inside Country Risk Ratings 2014. The survey has been conducted over three years from February 2013 to August 2015.
