Wednesday, 10 December, 2025
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has sharply criticised the interim government for failing to take decisive action against corruption, warning that graft continues to fester across the country.
Iftekharuzzaman, Executive Director of TIB, the local chapter of the Berlin-based global anti-corruption watchdog, made the remarks during a media briefing on Sunday, where he also presented a set of recommendations that political parties should adopt in their manifestos ahead of the next parliamentary elections.
“TIB does not yet have conclusive data on whether corruption has increased or decreased since August 5,” Iftekharuzzaman said. “We are working on comparative figures. But the reality is clear: corruption has continued unabated. We have witnessed multiple examples since the afternoon of August 5.”
He emphasised that corruption is rampant across several sectors. “A section of the country is engaged in corruption through factionalism, land grabbing, and extortion,” he said. “Others are abusing political power and governance structures to serve private interests.”
Iftekharuzzaman underlined that the interim government had missed a crucial opportunity to take a strong and visible stance against corruption. “The failure to act decisively sends the wrong message to both the public and perpetrators,” he warned.
The TIB chief called for urgent reforms in the banking and financial sector. Among 52 recommendations presented at the briefing, he urged the formation of an independent bank commission and the removal of politically connected individuals and business families from boards and management of all commercial banks and Bangladesh Bank. He also demanded that past perpetrators of fraud, irregularities, and corruption be brought to justice.
“Legal frameworks alone cannot ensure transparency and accountability,” Iftekharuzzaman said. “Reforms must be implemented, and enforcement must be visible to restore public confidence.”
He highlighted that ordinary businessmen and entrepreneurs have suffered substantial losses over the last 15 years due to systemic corruption and mismanagement, pointing to the government’s failure to implement previous reform commission proposals, including incorporating business-sector corruption into the Anti-Corruption Commission’s schedule.
Experts and civic groups are increasingly warning that corruption, if unchecked, could undermine Bangladesh’s democratic and economic transition, especially as the country approaches the high-stakes national elections in February. The TIB’s recommendations, they say, offer a roadmap for political parties to commit to transparency, accountability, and genuine reform before contesting for power.
“If the upcoming government does not prioritise anti-corruption measures, the nation risks perpetuating a cycle of impunity,” Iftekharuzzaman concluded, urging immediate action across all sectors of governance.
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Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has sharply criticised the interim government for failing to take decisive action against corruption, warning that graft continues to fester across the country.
Iftekharuzzaman, Executive Director of TIB, the local chapter of the Berlin-based global anti-corruption watchdog, made the remarks during a media briefing on Sunday, where he also presented a set of recommendations that political parties should adopt in their manifestos ahead of the next parliamentary elections.
“TIB does not yet have conclusive data on whether corruption has increased or decreased since August 5,” Iftekharuzzaman said. “We are working on comparative figures. But the reality is clear: corruption has continued unabated. We have witnessed multiple examples since the afternoon of August 5.”
He emphasised that corruption is rampant across several sectors. “A section of the country is engaged in corruption through factionalism, land grabbing, and extortion,” he said. “Others are abusing political power and governance structures to serve private interests.”
Iftekharuzzaman underlined that the interim government had missed a crucial opportunity to take a strong and visible stance against corruption. “The failure to act decisively sends the wrong message to both the public and perpetrators,” he warned.
The TIB chief called for urgent reforms in the banking and financial sector. Among 52 recommendations presented at the briefing, he urged the formation of an independent bank commission and the removal of politically connected individuals and business families from boards and management of all commercial banks and Bangladesh Bank. He also demanded that past perpetrators of fraud, irregularities, and corruption be brought to justice.
“Legal frameworks alone cannot ensure transparency and accountability,” Iftekharuzzaman said. “Reforms must be implemented, and enforcement must be visible to restore public confidence.”
He highlighted that ordinary businessmen and entrepreneurs have suffered substantial losses over the last 15 years due to systemic corruption and mismanagement, pointing to the government’s failure to implement previous reform commission proposals, including incorporating business-sector corruption into the Anti-Corruption Commission’s schedule.
Experts and civic groups are increasingly warning that corruption, if unchecked, could undermine Bangladesh’s democratic and economic transition, especially as the country approaches the high-stakes national elections in February. The TIB’s recommendations, they say, offer a roadmap for political parties to commit to transparency, accountability, and genuine reform before contesting for power.
“If the upcoming government does not prioritise anti-corruption measures, the nation risks perpetuating a cycle of impunity,” Iftekharuzzaman concluded, urging immediate action across all sectors of governance.
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