Bangladesh stands the second most corrupt country in South Asia, according to Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB).
In addition, Bangladesh ranked 149 in the world, 13th from the bottom, according to the Corruption Perceptions Index 2018.
Earlier in 2017, the position was 17th in the corruption index.
TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman unveiled the report at a press conference in the city’s Midas Centre this morning.
The report also stated that it is embarrassing to see Bangladesh at the second lowest position in South Asia.
As per the CPI report in 2018, Denmark garnered the top spot among 180 countries being a corruption-free country while Somalia holds the lowest position.
Bhutan is in the 25th position being the least corrupted in South Asia while Afghanistan's 172nd position marked it at the peak in corruption among South Asian countries.
India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka holds the 78th, 117th and 89th positions respectively. Nepal and Maldives took 124th spot jointly.
“Bangladesh’s government had long list of commitments against corruption, but those were not implemented,” Iftekharuzzaman said in the briefing.
“There is no example of high-profile corrupts being booked. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is not booking high-profile corrupts,” he said.
“The ACC is netting low-level and middle-level corrupts,” Iftekharuzzaman said.
As probable cause of the slide, reasons upheld were errant corruption in the banking sector, encroachment of land and water bodies, graft in government purchase and recruitment, and increasing levels of money laundering.
“This is embarrassing for us. We are only ahead of Afghanistan in South Asia,” he said.
“There is a culture of denial among authorities. They deny facts when it comes to pointing out corruption,” Dr Iftekharuzzaman said.
“Instead, the government does not take it well when a report is published,” he added.
