Published: 11:03 PM, 08 September 2026
Releasing the Country from Bribery and Corruption Should Be Ruling Authorities’ Top Priority
Corruption is not merely a moral failure or an administrative irregularity; it is a serious national problem that weakens institutions, damages the economy, deepens inequality and destroys public confidence in government. For Bangladesh, where millions of people depend on public institutions for essential services, releasing the country from bribery and corruption should be one of the ruling authorities’ highest priorities. Without a determined and sustained fight against corruption, economic development, democratic governance and social justice will remain fragile.
The scale of the problem is deeply concerning. According to the latest National Household Survey of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), 81.6 percent of households experienced corruption while accessing at least one service sector during 2025, while 63.6 percent were compelled to pay bribes. The estimated value of bribe transactions reached Tk 12,633.2 crore, equivalent to 1.58 percent of the revised national budget for fiscal year 2024–25.
These figures demonstrate that bribery is not an isolated problem involving a handful of dishonest officials. It has become deeply embedded in parts of the service-delivery system. Citizens often find themselves paying money simply to obtain services to which they are legally entitled. When a person has to pay a bribe to obtain a passport, register land, receive a government document, secure healthcare or get assistance from law-enforcement agencies, the very meaning of public service is undermined.
The consequences are particularly severe for poor and vulnerable citizens. A wealthy individual may regard a bribe as an inconvenience, but for a low-income family even a small illegal payment can mean sacrificing food, education, healthcare or other necessities. TIB's survey found that lower-income households bear a disproportionately high burden of bribery. Rural citizens also reported high levels of corruption, while women, persons with disabilities and indigenous communities face additional difficulties in accessing services.
Corruption also discourages investment and weakens economic growth. Public money that should be used to build roads, bridges, schools, hospitals and other infrastructure can be lost through inflated contracts, political influence, kickbacks and fraudulent practices. When businesses must pay bribes to obtain licences, permits or government services, the cost of doing business rises. Honest entrepreneurs are placed at a disadvantage, while those with political or financial connections gain unfair advantages.
More dangerously, corruption creates a vicious cycle. When corrupt people believe that they will not be punished, corruption becomes normalised. Ordinary citizens may then conclude that paying a bribe is the only practical way to get things done. Officials who refuse to participate in corrupt practices can face pressure from colleagues or influential individuals. Eventually, an institution that should serve citizens becomes a system in which personal connections and illegal payments determine outcomes.
The ruling authorities therefore need to move beyond slogans and demonstrate political commitment through concrete action. The first requirement is zero tolerance for corruption, regardless of the political identity, social position or institutional power of the accused. Anti-corruption laws must apply equally to ministers, members of parliament, senior officials, law-enforcement personnel, businessmen and ordinary employees. Selective enforcement will only create another form of injustice.
Second, the independence and effectiveness of anti-corruption institutions must be strengthened. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) should have sufficient operational independence, professional investigators, modern investigative tools and protection from political interference. Investigations must be conducted impartially, and cases should not be delayed indefinitely. TIB has recently highlighted concerns about the slow progress of investigations involving high-profile individuals and weaknesses in recovering allegedly laundered funds.
Third, government services should be made as transparent and simple as possible. Complicated procedures create opportunities for middlemen and dishonest officials. Digitaliszation can reduce face-to-face interaction and make transactions easier to monitor, but technology alone cannot eliminate corruption. TIB's 2025 survey found that corruption remained widespread despite partial digitaliszation, partly because hybrid systems and dependence on intermediaries continued to create opportunities for bribery.
The government should therefore establish clear online procedures, fixed fees, service deadlines and mechanisms for tracking applications. Every citizen should know exactly what service they are entitled to receive, how much it costs and how long it should take. Any official demanding an unofficial payment should face swift investigation.
Public procurement deserves special attention. Large development projects involve enormous sums of public money and can become vulnerable to collusion, inflated costs and political influence. Tendering should be genuinely competitive, ownership information of companies should be transparent, and project expenditures should be publicly accessible. Independent audits and parliamentary oversight must be strengthened so that irregularities are detected before they become massive losses.
Another crucial measure is protecting whistle-blowers, journalists and citizens who expose corruption. Investigative journalism and responsible civil society organisations can play a powerful role in uncovering wrongdoing. People will hesitate to report corruption if they fear retaliation. A credible complaint mechanism, confidentiality and legal protection for whistle-blowers are therefore essential components of an effective anti-corruption strategy.
At the same time, the government must recognise that fighting corruption is not solely the responsibility of the state. Political parties, businesses, professionals, educational institutions, the media and ordinary citizens all have roles to play. Political parties in particular should ensure financial transparency and discourage the use of money and influence to capture public institutions. Citizens, too, should resist the culture of giving and receiving illegal payments whenever lawful alternatives are available.
Education can contribute to long-term change. Anti-corruption values should be incorporated into civic education so that young people learn that public resources belong to society as a whole. Honesty, accountability and respect for the rule of law should not remain abstract concepts in textbooks; they should be reflected in the behaviour of public institutions.
Bangladesh is at an important stage of its democratic and institutional development. Public expectations for accountable governance are high, and the new government has an opportunity to turn those expectations into lasting reforms. TIB has recommended an integrated national strategy that places good governance and anti-corruption measures at the centre of government planning and implementation.
The fight against corruption will not be won overnight. It requires political courage, institutional reform, effective law enforcement and continuous public oversight. Most importantly, the authorities must demonstrate that no one is above the law.
Bangladesh has achieved remarkable progress in economic and social development despite numerous challenges. But development cannot be sustainable if corruption continues to consume public resources and undermine citizens' rights. A country cannot build a strong economy on weak institutions, nor can democracy flourish where public services are treated as commodities for sale.
Therefore, releasing Bangladesh from bribery and corruption should not be treated as a secondary administrative objective. It should be the ruling authorities' top national priority. If the government can establish transparent institutions, ensure impartial justice, strengthen anti-corruption bodies and make public services genuinely accessible, it will not only save enormous public resources but also restore citizens' faith in the state.
The real measure of good governance is not simply how many laws are enacted or how many development projects are announced. It is whether an ordinary citizen can obtain a government service without paying a bribe, receiving special treatment or knowing someone powerful. A corruption-free Bangladesh may be difficult to achieve, but with political will, institutional independence and public participation, it is an achievable national aspiration.
PR Biswas is Senior Staff
Correspondent at The Asian Age.
