CORRUPTION in Bangladesh remains persistent in the changed political context, the chair of the global Transparency International observed during his three-day official visit in Dhaka. The chair, François Valérian made the remark in acknowledging the steps taken by the interim government to contain widespread corruption. It will take long to completely eliminate the systematic corruption that Bangladesh witnessed during the fallen Awami regime, but concerted efforts should be in place towards this goal. In 2009–2023, illicit financial outflows averaged $16 billion a year, which is more than double the combined value of net foreign aid and foreign direct investment inflows. In August, an Asian Development Bank report on non-performing loans said that the amount of such loans in Bangladesh had reached $20.27 billion, a 28 per cent increase on the previous year’s. The finance adviser has talked about identifying wilful defaulters and bringing them to justice. The chief adviser has talked about effective steps to recover the laundered money. But there is a need for immediate decisive action to recover laundered money and hold wilful defaulters to justice.
In the annual Corruption Perceptions Index 2024, Bangladesh has ranked 151st, two steps lower than its rank in 2023. The 2024 score is Bangladesh’s worst since 2012, which has identified the country with a ‘serious corruption problem’ where the government has lost ‘control of corruption.’ It remains the second lowest in South Asia, after only Afghanistan, and the fifth lowest in the Asia-Pacific region. It is true that fighting systemic corruption is a long-term process, but there should be strict enforcement of laws to reverse the trend. This is, however, disappointing to see the corrupt political and bureaucratic culture persist. The Anti-Corruption Commission in April initiated an investigation of allegations of corruption against the assistant private secretary and personal officer to two advisers. There are allegations that errant police officers, along with some supporters of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, have extorted from the police, who were on duty during the July uprising. The syndicates controlling kitchen markets continue to maintain their unholy control, causing price instability and adding to public sufferings.
Drawing from the findings and recommendations of a number of reform commissions, the government should consider developing a time-bound national anti-corruption strategy, a road map for depoliticising state institutions such as the Anti-Corruption Commission, the law enforcement agencies and the judiciary. It is high time that the government reviewed the laws and regulations that hinder the process of taking action against all involved in major financial crimes during the Awami League regime. More specifically, the Anti Corruption Commission should be given the statutory power so that it can act more independently in future.