Bangladesh’s battle against corruption has hit a new low, as the country’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) score for 2024 stands at 23—its worst in 13 years.
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) revealed on Tuesday that the latest ranking places Bangladesh 151st among 180 nations, marking a two-step decline from last year and securing its position as South Asia’s second-most corrupt country after Afghanistan.
The findings were disclosed during a press conference at TIB’s Dhaka office in Dhanmondi, where TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman presented the global corruption landscape.
He said while 56 countries improved their CPI scores in 2024, 93 declined, and 31 remained unchanged.
Globally, corruption remains a persistent issue, with more than two-thirds of countries scoring below 50, and 56% falling short of the global average of 43.
Denmark once again leads the rankings with a near-impeccable score of 90, followed by Finland (88), and Singapore (84). Meanwhile, South Sudan (8), Somalia (9), and Venezuela (10) occupy the bottom of the list.
For Bangladesh, the decline to a score of 23 marks a clear downward trajectory.
Between 2012 and 2022, the country’s score fluctuated between 25 and 28, but the last two years have seen consecutive drops—24 in 2023 and now 23 in 2024.
This year’s score is nearly three points below its 13-year average of 26.
Bangladesh shares its ranking with the Republic of Congo and Iran. Within South Asia, Afghanistan ranks the lowest with 17 points.
TIB’s analysis warns against the misconception that all Bangladeshis are corrupt. Instead, it highlights how citizens are the victims of a system that rewards power holders for unchecked corruption.
It said successive governments have failed to combat corruption effectively, allowing embezzlement, state-backed protection of corrupt individuals, and selective law enforcement to become the norm.
Institutions like the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), instead of curbing corruption, have largely remained ineffective, it added.
South Asia sees decline
Bhutan is the only South Asian nation to have improved its score in 2024, gaining four points from last year.
In contrast, the remaining seven nations—including Bangladesh—saw declines of one to three points. Afghanistan saw the sharpest drop (three points), while Pakistan and Sri Lanka lost two each.
Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and the Maldives all saw one-point declines.
Only Bhutan and Nepal managed to improve their rankings this year, while the rest of South Asia saw a drop of two to six positions.
Sri Lanka recorded the steepest decline, slipping six places.
Bangladesh and Pakistan each fell two places in global rankings.
Notably, aside from Bhutan, all South Asian countries scored below the global average of 43.
In the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), Bhutan ranks highest in South Asia with a score of 72 and a global rank of 18, followed by India at 96th place.
Sri Lanka holds 107th, while Nepal ranks 121st.
The Maldives is ranked 135th, with Bangladesh following closely at 151st.
Afghanistan ranks the lowest in the region, occupying 165th place globally.
"The connection between corruption and climate change is undeniable," Dr Iftekharuzzaman said at the briefing, adding that corruption weakens climate initiatives, diverts critical resources, and undermines global efforts to address the crisis.
He emphasized that in countries with high corruption, the lack of accountability stifles progress on carbon reduction and resilience-building.
But even nations with strong CPI scores are not exempt, he noted, as they obstruct climate action through corporate lobbying and political influence.
"Without transparency and good governance, both global and national efforts to tackle climate change will remain ineffective," Iftekharuzzaman warned, stressing that the issue extends beyond environmental concerns—it is a governance crisis demanding urgent reform.
