TI corruption perception index

Country’s position slightly improves

The country has scored one point higher than the last year in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) scale in 2016. The survey was undertaken by the Berlin-based anti-graft watchdog Transparency International.
As per the CPI scale of 0-100, Bangladesh scored 26 in 2016, one point higher than its score in 2015 and 2014. However, the 2016 score was one point lower than that in 2013. 
Bangladesh had scored the same 26 points in 2012.
As per the global average, the satisfactory score on the CPI scale is 43 points. Among South Asian countries, Bangladesh was only better than Afghanistan, which was the sixth lowest in the global list.

However, no country scored 100 per cent in the CPI scale in 2016 and 109 countries lagged behind the global average of 43. Denmark and New Zealand were the least corrupt country, with each scoring 90, and Somalia was the most corrupt nation with mere 10 points.
Several factors, including stronger legal, institutional and policy capacity to control corruption, were perceived for the country’s jump of one point on the CPI scale. But the poor show once again was blamed on the low rate of redressal against high profile corruption, the perception of political and government offices as means of enrichment, and conflict of interest between different groups.
Unabated grabbing of land, river and waterbodies, loan default, and growing political clout over contracts and recruitment business, as well as weak institutions of accountability were some of the other factors for the low CPI score.
The survey stated that deficit in effectiveness and independence of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and denial syndrome led to cultural impunity and weakening of the rule of law.
Even the shrinking media and civil society, including the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), were not getting proper space to raise their voice against corruption, it added.
The survey was presented to the media by TIB at its Midas Centre office in the capital yesterday. TIB chairperson Advocate Sultana Kamal, trustee board member M Hafizuddin Khan and executive director Dr Iftekharuzzaman addressed the press conference.
Among the 176 countries/territories surveyed, Bangladesh’s rank was 145 last year. In 2015, it was 13th from the bottom among 168 countries/territories.
According to the survey, Bhutan was the least corrupt among the eight South Asian nations with a score of 65 points. It was followed by India (40), Maldives (37), and Sri Lanka (36).
Pakistan scored 32 points in 2016 as against 30 points in 2015. Nepal scored 29 points in 2016 as against 27 points in 2015. Except Bhutan, all the South Asian countries have scored less than the global average of 43 points.
Cameron, Gambia, Kenya, Madagascar and Nicaragua also scored 26, the same as Bangladesh.
Bangladesh was earlier placed at the very bottom for five successive years (2001-2005). Then in 2006, it ranked third from the bottom. It continued to jump places after that. 
It was ranked seventh in 2007, 10th in 2008, 13th in 2009, 12th in 2010, 13th in 2011 and 2012, 16th in 2013 ranked, 14th in 2014, 13th in 2015, and 15th in 2016.
The other high performer counties were Finland (89), Sweden (88), Switzerland (86), Norway (85), Singapore (84), Netherlands (83), Canada (82), Germany (81), Luxembourg (81), UK (81) Australia (79), Iceland (78), Belgium (77), Hong Kong (77), Austria (75), USA (74), Ireland (73), Japan (72), Uruguay (71), Estonia (70), France (69), Bahamas (65), Chile (66) and UAE (66). 
On the other hand, Somalia appeared as the most corrupt, followed by South Sudan, which scored 11 points. 
The CPI index found that out of 176 countries, 124 (70 per cent) scored below 50 and 109 countries (62 per cent) scored less than the global average 43, while 18 countries (67 per cent) out of the 27 in Asia-Pacific have scored less than 43.
In 2016, the scores increased in 63 countries, remained same in 30 countries and declined in 71 countries.  
The countries that scored lower than Bangladesh were Angola (18), Republic of Congo (20), Haiti (20), Chad (20), Burundi (20), Central African Republic (20), Uzbekistan (21), Democratic Republic of Congo (21), Cambodia (21) and Zimbabwe (22).
Citing the survey findings, Dr Iftekharuzzaman said that the will to deliver political and government promises without fear and favour was necessary to curb corruption.  
He said the government’s failure to implement pledges to fight corruption, along with lack of professionalism and moral courage of the ACC, has overshadowed Bangladesh’s fight against graft.He also referred to curtailing independence of the ACC and grabbing of land, rivers and waterbodies in this respect.
He also suggested that public service, administration and law enforcement agencies should be free from partisan political influence. “Access to information has to be ensured so that people know the sources of public money and how it is spent,” he said.
Sultana Kamal said: “It’s a matter of hope that Bangladesh has not gone down in CPI, but we are not satisfied with the position. We have the potential to do better.”
“The fight against corruption should not be taken lightly. The ACC is still helpless. It is quite impossible to curb corruption without political will and commitment. We are still in fierce struggle to curb corruption,” she added.

 

TI corruption perception index

Countrys position slightly improves

The country has scored one point higher than the last year in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) scale in 2016. The survey was undertaken by the Berlin-based anti-graft watchdog Transparency International. As per the CPI scale of 0-100, Bangladesh scored 26 in 2016, one point higher than its score in 2015 and 2014. However, the 2016 score was one point lower than that in 2013. Bangladesh had scored the same 26 points in 2012. As per the global average, the satisfactory score on the CPI scale is 43 points. Among South Asian countries, Bangladeshwas only better than Afghanistan, which was the sixth lowest in the global list. However, no country scored 100 per cent in the CPI scale in 2016 and 109 countries lagged behind the global average of 43. Denmark and New Zealand were the least corrupt country, with each scoring 90, and Somalia was the most corrupt nation with mere 10 points. Several factors, including stronger legal, institutional and policy capacity to control corruption, were perceived for the countrys jump of one point on the CPI scale. But the poor show once again was blamed on the low rate of redressal against high profile corruption, the perception of political and government offices as means of enrichment, and conflict of interest between different groups. Unabated grabbing of land, river and waterbodies, loan default, and growing political clout over contracts and recruitment business, as well as weak institutions of accountability were some of the other factors for the low CPI score. The survey stated that deficit in effectiveness and independence of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and denial syndrome led to cultural impunity and weakening of the rule of law. Even the shrinking media and civil society, including the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), were not getting proper space to raise their voice against corruption, it added. The survey was presented to the media by TIB at its Midas Centre office in the capital yesterday. TIB chairperson Advocate Sultana Kamal, trustee board member M Hafizuddin Khan and executive director Dr Iftekharuzzaman addressed the press conference. Among the 176 countries/territories surveyed, Bangladeshs rank was 145 last year. In 2015, it was 13th from the bottom among 168 countries/territories. According to the survey, Bhutan was the least corrupt among the eight South Asian nations with a score of 65 points. It was followed by India (40), Maldives (37), and Sri Lanka (36). Pakistan scored 32 points in 2016 as against 30 points in 2015. Nepal scored 29 points in 2016 as against 27 points in 2015. Except Bhutan, all the South Asian countries have scored less than the global average of 43 points. Cameron, Gambia, Kenya, Madagascar and Nicaragua also scored 26, the same as Bangladesh. Bangladesh was earlier placed at the very bottom for five successive years (2001-2005). Then in 2006, it ranked third from the bottom. It continued to jump places after that. It was ranked seventh in 2007, 10th in 2008, 13th in 2009, 12th in 2010, 13th in 2011 and 2012, 16th in 2013 ranked, 14th in 2014, 13th in 2015, and 15th in 2016. The other high performer counties were Finland (89), Sweden (88), Switzerland (86), Norway (85), Singapore (84), Netherlands (83), Canada (82), Germany (81), Luxembourg (81), UK (81) Australia (79), Iceland (78), Belgium (77), Hong Kong (77), Austria (75), USA (74), Ireland (73), Japan (72), Uruguay (71), Estonia (70), France (69), Bahamas (65), Chile (66) and UAE (66). On the other hand, Somalia appeared as the most corrupt, followed by South Sudan, which scored 11 points. The CPI index found that out of 176 countries, 124 (70 per cent) scored below 50 and 109 countries (62 per cent) scored less than the global average 43, while 18 countries (67 per cent) out of the 27 in Asia-Pacific have scored less than 43. In 2016, the scores increased in 63 countries, remained same in 30 countries and declined in 71 countries. The countries that scored lower than Bangladesh were Angola (18), Republic of Congo (20), Haiti (20), Chad (20), Burundi (20), Central African Republic (20), Uzbekistan (21), Democratic Republic of Congo (21), Cambodia (21) and Zimbabwe (22). Citing the survey findings, Dr Iftekharuzzaman said that the will to deliver political and government promises without fear and favour was necessary to curb corruption. He said the governments failure to implement pledges to fight corruption, along with lack of professionalism and moral courage of the ACC, has overshadowed Bangladeshs fight against graft.He also referred to curtailing independence of the ACC and grabbing of land, rivers and waterbodies in this respect. He also suggested that public service, administration and law enforcement agencies should be free from partisan political influence. Access to information has to be ensured so that people know the sources of public money and how it is spent, he said. Sultana Kamal said: Its a matter of hope that Bangladesh has not gone down in CPI, but we are not satisfied with the position. We have the potential to do better. The fight against corruption should not be taken lightly. The ACC is still helpless. It is quite impossible to curb corruption without political will and commitment. We are still in fierce struggle to curb corruption, she added.