Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) on Tuesday defended the methodology of its recent report reviewing the government’s first 100 days in office, rejecting claims that its findings on the law-and-order situation were based solely on newspaper reports.
In a statement, TIB said it was encouraged by media reports on remarks made by the home minister, discussions in Parliament, and responses from police authorities regarding findings of its report titled “100 Days of the Government after the 13th National Parliamentary Election: Review of the Implementation of Good Governance and Anti-Corruption Commitments.”
The organization said such reactions contribute positively to making its work more effective and impactful.
TIB noted that the home minister had correctly stated that it does not conduct investigations.
“‘TIB is not an investigative agency; rather, it is a research-based anti-corruption and good governance organization that works through advocacy, public awareness, and citizen engagement to promote positive change,’” the statement said.
It said its research follows nationally and internationally recognized social science methodologies for collecting qualitative and quantitative data, drawing on a range of direct and indirect sources that undergo multi-layered verification before analysis and inclusion in reports.
On issues raised by the home minister, Parliament, and police authorities—particularly the law-and-order situation—TIB said its sources included Bangladesh Police and three recognized human rights organizations, as clearly stated in the report.
The minister’s claim that the report was based solely on newspaper clippings is therefore “unfounded,” it added.
TIB acknowledged that, as in standard social science practice, it also considers relevant media reports, but said such information is assessed for credibility and verified before use.
It added that media-based information is analyzed alongside data from government, non-governmental, direct and indirect sources.
“Therefore, portraying TIB’s report as merely newspaper-clipping-based is not only unreasonable, but also an attempt to divert attention from the substantive issues raised in the report,” the statement said.
TIB also noted that elected representatives, governments, and state institutions globally often rely on media reports for decision-making and use the media to communicate their positions and activities.
“Therefore, there is no justification for dismissing TIB’s report or devaluing media-based information under the guise of rejecting or discrediting the report,” it added.
The organization further said police authorities, in their press briefing, did not dispute its central finding that the law-and-order situation remains worrying.
However, TIB said the police call for a comparative analysis with previous administrations falls outside the scope of the study, and it would be inappropriate for the organization to comment on that aspect.
