New Delhi, Feb 17 (NationPress) Bangladesh has been positioned as the 13th lowest globally, with a score of 24 out of 100 on the annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2025 published by Transparency International (TI).

This ranking reflects a decline, moving one step lower from the bottom compared to 2024 and is two points below Bangladesh’s average from 2012 to 2025. Additionally, the country is the second lowest in South Asia, surpassing only Afghanistan. Globally, Bangladesh falls within the lowest quintile of 182 countries, with 122 nations scoring below 50, and 96 below the global average of 42.

Consequently, Bangladesh has been categorized among nations facing a “very serious corruption problem”, as reported by The Daily Star, based in Dhaka.

Upon closer examination of Bangladesh’s performance, the slight improvement in score compared to the previous CPI indicates recognition of the July uprising, which challenged kleptocracy and fostered hopes for “dekleptification”, according to the report.

However, the inability to advance and establish a foundation for transformation has become apparent. Following the uprising, Bangladesh has experienced ongoing corrupt practices in both national and local political and governance arenas. The interim government's failure to exemplify transparency, integrity, and accountability has hindered the potential for a better overall score, the report noted.

Several nations that previously held similar or even lower scores than Bangladesh (such as Nepal, Laos, Vietnam, Timor-Leste, Ukraine, and Angola) have significantly enhanced their CPI rankings through comprehensive institutional reforms and effective digitalization of public services, alongside rigorous prosecution of high-level corruption, particularly within political and corporate sectors, the report emphasized.

The overarching global message of CPI 2025 highlights a worsening corruption crisis worldwide, even in self-proclaimed democracies, due to declining compliance and enforcement standards. Nevertheless, the index also illustrates that corruption is not a foregone conclusion. Numerous countries have demonstrated that progress is feasible if political leaders commit to integrity and take decisive action to combat corruption beyond mere rhetoric, implement robust reforms for transparent governance, and effectively prosecute corrupt individuals, particularly those involved in political and corporate corruption, while safeguarding media and civic spaces, the report asserted.

The interim government in Bangladesh has struggled to adopt a comprehensive strategy for determining the reform agenda, particularly in anti-corruption efforts. There has been a lack of a reform implementation plan, risk analysis, or risk mitigation strategy. The foundation established through various ordinances has become fragile due to “ad hocism”, political resistance, and selective approaches.

Significant progress has not been made in reforming the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), leaving aspirations for its independence, accountability, and effectiveness unfulfilled. The government's failure to demonstrate transparent, accountable, and conflict-of-interest-free governance has been evident. Inaction and even resistance from the ACC, colluding with government bureaucracy against strategic reform recommendations, have largely undermined reform prospects. This scenario unfolds against the backdrop of widespread extortionist capture of governance spaces across the nation, indicating a troubling “our turn” syndrome within the kleptocratic ecosystem, the report concluded.