United News of Bangladesh

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has expressed deep disappointment and indignation over the Advisory Council’s final approval of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Ordinance ‘ignoring strategically important recommendations.’ The recommendations were essential for ensuring transparency, accountability and institutional independence of the anti-graft body, it said in a statement on Friday (November 28). The exclusion of “Selection and Review Committee” from the final ordinance despite  being included in the July Charter is not only disappointing, but also indicates that like almost all other cases of reform proposals the state reform agenda has become hostage to the conspiracies of anti-reform circles within the government, it added. TIB also questions whether by denying the provision to make ACC accountable as much as independent, the Chief Adviser, as the head of the consensus commission and the groundbreaking decision-maker to form the 11 reform commissions, is trying to send a message to all including political parties, that ‘state reforms are just a rhetoric for the Government.’ Read more: ACC’s year of mixed outcomes: 249 cases closed, yet acquittals dominate Noting that the ACC Reform Commission had recommended the formation of a “Selection and Review Committee” considering the experience of the past two decades, the opinions of all stakeholders, international best practices, and the political and bureaucratic context of Bangladesh in order to ensure that the ACC does not continue to function as a tool of protection of  those in power and harass political or other opponents, TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman said. “This proposal was made to overcome the dire situation of ACC as the institution has been suffering from a lack of public trust since its inception, as a puppet of vested quarters, it has become a tool of protection for those in power and harassment of opponents,” he said. It is regrettable that the government has failed to understand the strategic value of this recommendation to transform the ACC into a truly accountable, independent, and impartial institution through half-yearly reviews, public hearings, and recommendations by the proposed committee, he said. ACC’s year of mixed outcomes: 249 cases closed, yet acquittals dominate “For a government responsible for state reforms, this is a self-contradictory and anti-reform precedent,” he added. Dr. Zaman further said the matter is even more disappointing because according to reliable sources, at least seven Advisors have opposed this proposal at the Cabinet meeting. “Yet they know that all the political parties that signed the July Charter have fully agreed on this provision. Before creating such a bad precedent of violating the July Charter, why the government does not realise that through this the Government is by itself actually encouraging political parties to violate the July Charter? Why then unprecedented bloodletting sacrifices were made? What kind of state reform is it that blocks the way to effectively curb corruption?” he questioned. The draft of the ordinance that TIB had the opportunity to review seemed to be in some ways of a higher standard than the existing law for which the organization commends the government, it said. TIB calls for full disclosure of agreements with foreign cos on Laldia, Pangaon terminals However, the TIB Executive Director has expressed deep disappointment and regret as according to reliable sources, in addition to the mentioned issue several other important strategic recommendations on which political consensus was achieved have been omitted. “This can be nothing but a corruption-enabling  and anti-reform stance of vested interests and influential quarters within the government,” he added.

The interim government on Friday reacted to the statement issued by the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), noting that it is "deeply disappointing" that it issued a public statement based on unverified social media posts, rather than verified facts. "Contrary to TIB’s recent statement — which unfortunately relies on inaccurate information — the Bangladesh delegation to the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is not only significantly smaller than those of the Hasina era, but also far more focused, industrious, and results-driven," said Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam in a statement. TIB is a respected civil society organisation and a long-standing advocate for transparency, he said. The delegation's purpose is to represent the interests of Bangladesh and its people at the world’s most significant diplomatic gathering, where key global decisions are shaped. Over the past five days alone, members of the delegation have held at least a dozen high-level meetings, including bilateral engagements with more than six heads of state or government, Press Secretary Alam said. TIB has inaccurately claimed that the delegation exceeds 100 members. The actual number is 62 — only marginally higher than last year's 57, said the Press Secretary. "It is worth noting that last year’s figure did not account for six eminent politicians who traveled at the invitation of the Chief Adviser." Roughly a third of this year’s delegation comprises security personnel, who are essential to ensuring the safety of senior officials, including Professor Muhammad Yunus, amid credible threats from Awami League supporters, Alam said. Key issues Prof Yunus may raise in UNGA speech tonight Despite these measures, he said, the current team has been stretched, with many security officers working extended 16-hour shifts to provide adequate protection. The government acknowledges that questions may arise regarding the size of the delegation. However, Alam said, this year’s UNGA holds exceptional significance for Bangladesh. "At a time when various actors are engaged in deliberate efforts to destabilise the country — including a concerted campaign to misrepresent the July uprising — strong and proactive international engagement is not just strategic, but necessary." The press secretary said it is well documented that the Awami League and its allies are spending millions to fund a flood of misinformation about the Interim government and the July uprising -- and to lobby against Bangladesh's democratic transition, often with the tacit support of certain international quarters. This year’s delegation includes several individuals who will represent Bangladesh at the upcoming Rohingya Conference on September 30 — underscoring Dhaka’s continued leadership on one of the region’s most urgent humanitarian and security issues, he said. In addition, several advisers — though not part of the formal UNGA delegation — have travelled separately to engage with their global counterparts on matters of mutual concern, Alam said. Labour reforms crucial in attracting large-scale FDI to Bangladesh: Prof Yunus  Leaders of Bangladesh’s most popular political parties were also invited to participate, and a number of officials were assigned to support them, he said. 'This inclusive approach sends a clear and unequivocal message: Bangladesh is firmly committed to a peaceful, democratic transition," Alam said.

Terming the government’s attempt to appoint an officer accused of graft in the ACC unacceptable, the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) on Wednesday raised question a whether efforts are being made to make it ineffective from within the government. In a press release, TIB said the move raises concerns about whether the government is attempting to shield corruption and render the ACC ineffective. Citing media reports, TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman said the appointment of Amin Al Parvez, a government official accused in a corruption case related to land acquisition in Cox’s Bazar, has been canceled. “We want to commend the ACC's decision to cancel the appointment of the accused officer,” he said. TIB demands immediate cancellation of fossil fuel-centric energy master plan He said, “The most pressing question is: On what grounds was an officer accused of corruption appointed to the ACC on deputation? This decision comes at a time when the ACC Reform Commission has explicitly recommended identifying corrupt officers and employees within the ACC, dismissing them through departmental measures, and prosecuting them. “ “Appointing an official facing corruption allegations—directly contradicting this recommendation—raises serious concerns. What message does this send? Given the current circumstances, it’s not unreasonable to believe that, rather than strengthening the ACC in the fight against corruption, efforts are being made to render it ineffective from within the government. In reality, this suggests a conspiracy within the administration to protect corruption. The government’s decision to appoint an accused officer to the ACC is not only unacceptable but also deeply alarming.” Citing media reports, TIB said a case was filed against Amin Al Parvez in 2020 for embezzling 22.28 crore from the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) building construction and land acquisition project in Cox’s Bazar. At the time, he was serving as the Additional Deputy Commissioner (Education and ICT) in the Cox’s Bazar District Administration. An ACC report later revealed that Amin Al Parvez had unlawfully benefited himself and others through fraud and abuse of power, it said. “However, we urge the commission to treat this incident as a lesson and remain vigilant in all future appointments and promotions, particularly those made on deputation, ensuring that it remains free from undue influence. At the same time, the government—especially the bureaucracy—must refrain from undermining ACC reformation goals through such untoward actions,” said  Dr Iftekharuzzaman. “It is crucial to remember that the interim government’s duty is to set a precedent for accountability, not to tarnish its own credibility by shielding corruption or rewarding those implicated in it. Otherwise, how is this any different from the kleptocracy seen under authoritarian rule?”

Human rights activist and founder of Impact Foundation Bangladesh Mansur Ahmed Chowdhury has been elected chairperson of the trustee board of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB). Mansur succeeds outgoing chairperson Advocate Sultana Kamal, said a press release issued on Sunday. TIB's founding executive director Barrister Manzur Hasan and Tahera Yesmin have been made members of the TIB's trustee board, the highest policy-making forum of the TIB. Read: TIB urges new ACC chairman, commissioners to disclose income-asset statements TIB trustee board member Faruque Ahmed has taken the role of chairman of the audit committee. Former Controller General of Defence Finance Motaher Hossain has been appointed as a member of the audit committee. Mansur, founder of the floating hospital Jiban-Tori, has long been dedicated to improving the quality of life for persons with disabilities and advocating for their human rights. He played a pivotal role in forming the National Disability Forum, serving as its chairman, and has also been a member of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights’ Committee on Disability.

The Transparency International (TIB) findings revealed in household surveys since 2010 show that from 2009 to April 2024, the included service sector institutions have collected an estimated total of Tk 146,252 crore in bribes. The households that paid bribes or unauthorized money for services from May 2023 to April 2024 spent an average of Tk 5,680 each. The total estimated bribes or unauthorized payments across all sectors during this period amounted to Tk10,902 crore, which is 1.44 percent of the national budget for 2023-24 and 0.22 percent of GDP. EuroCham launched, seen as new milestone in Bangladesh-EU business relations The passport, BRTA, law enforcement, judiciary, and land sectors were found to be the most corrupt in the service sector, with 70.9 percent of Bangladeshi households reporting corruption between May 2023 and April 2024. Furthermore, 50.8 percent of households experienced bribery at this time, with law enforcement, BRTA, and passport services having the highest percentages. TIB revealed these findings at a press conference unveiling the “Corruption in Service Sectors: National Household Survey 2023” results. The survey of 2023 revealed that 70.9 percent of households in Bangladesh has experienced corruption in some form while availing services from various public and private sectors or institutions. Passport services 86 percent were identified as the most corrupt sector, followed by BRTA 85.2 percent, law enforcement agencies 74.5 percent, judicial services 62.3 percent, land services 51 percent, public healthcare 49.1 percent, and local government institutions 44.2 percent. Overall, 50.8 percent of households reported paying bribes or being forced to pay unauthorized money to access services. The highest incidences of bribery were reported in passport services 74.8 percent, BRTA 71.9 percent, law enforcement agencies 58.3 percent, judicial services 34.1 percent, land services 32.3 percent, and local government institutions 29.7 percent. Among the households that paid bribes, 77.2 percent cited the reason as “services cannot be obtained without paying a bribe,” highlighting a concerning institutionalization of bribery practices. Tensions between Bangladesh and India grow over attack on Agartala mission The survey collected data on corruption and harassment encountered by selected households while obtaining services from service sectors between May 2023 and April 2024. Data for this survey were collected between May 13 and August 3, 2024.  

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) on Monday said India should come out from its negative attitude towards ‘New Bangladesh’ as the fall of the authoritarian regime is the biggest political, diplomatic and strategic defeat for India in its history. “We feel that India can’t accept the biggest political, diplomatic and strategic defeat in its history. They do not have the courage to admit it,” said TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman at a press conference. The press conference was arranged at its office in the capital’s Dhanmondi area to share TIB observations over the first 100 days of new Bangladesh after the fall of the authoritarian regime. The TIB Executive Director said new directions have been opened up in Bangladesh's relations with all countries in terms of mutual assistance and cooperation in the current context. “We expect the same to happen (in the relations) with India,” he said. He said India cannot play the expected ‘positive role’ or show ‘positive attitude’ following the ‘positive change’ in Bangladesh as India is unable to accept its politically, diplomatically and strategically biggest defeat in the history.  “They (India) are still seeing Bangladesh through the prism that supports this authoritarianism (in Bangladesh),” said Dr Iftekharuzzaman. So, it has created a huge risk for playing the role of a catalyst (by India) in some cases of the creation of possible destabilisation in Bangladesh, he added. Judiciary facilitated authoritarianism under Sheikh Hasina: TIB Executive Director The TIB executive director said many people had the perception that ‘liberal thinking’ was promoted in Indian political space, people and media. “We think India has changed (from that liberal thinking).” He said the way Indian media are projecting Bangladesh is at least risky and definitely a ‘disturbing factor’ for Bangladesh. “It has created an embarrassing situation for us (Bangladesh). But we also think it is very embarrassing and shaming for India itself. So, India has to move away from this path,” said Dr Iftekharuzzaman. He appreciated the role of the interim government of Bangladesh regarding the bilateral relations with India as it is always for keeping the door open. “We always talk about keeping the door open. India is our biggest neighbour. We would like to maintain a positive relation with India. The role of India in this regard is the most important,” he said. Noting there are risks in the transitional process of Bangladesh, the TIB Executive Director said India's role can be positive, and very negative in every case. “That risk must be kept in mind,” he said. Earlier, TIB senior research fellow Shahzada M Akram presented the report of a study titled ‘New Bangladesh Observations on the First 100 Days after the Fall of the Authoritarian Regime’ in the event. In his report, Akram said India’s failure to accept the reality of the fall of authoritarianism and to admit its mistakes, combined with the conspiratorial actions of the deposed government in India may destabilize the transition process, and, above all, the strained diplomatic relations with India may remain worrisome for the government and Bangladesh. He said the Indian government, politicians, and media fail to accept the reality of the fall of the authoritarian government by the mass uprising. India expressed concerns about the security of minority communities, especially Hindus, in Bangladesh, while purposeful misinformation and rumours spread in Indian media and social media, he added. Despite Bangladesh's strong protests, 'border killings' continue, said the TIB official. In the report, he said, the attitude of the international community towards the interim government is positive. “Support for the peaceful and democratic transition of Bangladesh has been expressed by various countries and organizations, including the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, India, Pakistan, Russia, China, Iran, the European Union and the United Nations,” he said. He said various international organisations have pledged to provide financial and other support to the interim government. Adviser of TIB’s Executive Management Prof Dr Sumaiya Khair, TIB Research and Policy Director Muhammad Badiuzzaman and TIB Outreach and Communications Director Muhammad Tauhidul Islam were present.  

Bangladesh loses approximately $13 billion every year to illicit financial outflows, creating significant challenges in recovering this vast amount, according to Dr Iftekharuzzaman, Executive Director of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB).  He highlighted the issue while addressing a seminar titled ‘Odious Debt & Recovery of Bangladesh’s Laundered Wealth’, organised by the Economic Reporters' Forum (ERF) and Sombabonar Bangladesh at the ERF Auditorium in Dhaka’s Paltan on Saturday. Dr Iftekharuzzaman emphasised the urgent need to hold financial criminals accountable, stating that “money launderers must face consequences, and anti-money laundering agencies should be made answerable to prevent future incidents.”  Appoint ACC leadership above political, bureaucratic influences: TIB He noted that while the government has initiated efforts to curb financial crime, stronger advocacy from civil society and political platforms is necessary to develop a sustainable anti-smuggling system. Reflecting on the recent efforts by Bangladesh Bank (BB) and the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU), Dr Iftekharuzzaman said that in previous years, these institutions had been accused of overlooking money laundering activities under autocratic influence.  However, he acknowledged that the central bank has now ramped up its efforts to tackle money laundering and to recover laundered funds. “But this should be turned into a sustainable system for the future." Dr Iftekharuzzaman also pointed to conditional requirements imposed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) aimed at curbing loans to fictitious companies, but criticised the lack of action.  “Despite IMF conditions to halt loans to fake and paper-based companies, the practice persists,” he said.  Corruption rate in roads and highways sector was 23-40% in 15 years: TIB He added that Islami and other banks had allegedly lost funds to paper-based companies in fraudulent schemes – a practice, he noted, which Bangladesh Bank has since acknowledged.  Meanwhile, many legitimate companies fulfilling all requirements struggle to obtain loans. The seminar’s keynote paper was presented by Anisuzzaman Chowdhury, Emeritus Professor at Western Sydney University, Australia.  Other speakers included Professor Jasim Uddin Ahmed, former Vice-Chancellor of Jahangirnagar University, and Nayem Chowdhury, economist and founder of Astra Gattaca Oppenheimer in the USA.  The programme was moderated by a senior journalist and former editor of the Daily New Nation Mostafa Kamal Majumder.

The corruption rate from the government's allocation for the roads and highways sector was between 23 to 40 percent during the period of fiscal year FY 2009-10 to FY 2022-23. The government allocated Tk 169,449 crore for the Roads and Highways Department, of which 23-40 percent or equivalent to Tk 29,230 crore and Tk 50,835 crore was embezzled, said a report of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB). The anti-graft watchdog published this report in the capital on Wednesday (October 9). Executive Director of TIB Dr Iftekharuzzaman said a syndicate involving politicians, bureaucrats and contractors were involved in corruption while implementing projects for public interest. These corruption was institutionalized from lower level to the highest level and around 40-43 percent of the money went missing in the bribery of Roads and Highways Department, he pointed out. "Now if we cannot break the tripartite syndicate, no anti-corruption programme will succeed," he said. Read: 'Cancellation of textbook review committee a risky compromise with radicals': TIB In response to a query Dr Iftekharuzzaman said, “We sought information about various projects of the Roads and Highways Department, we were denied a lot of information. Our expectation is that information is disclosed publicly, but the reality is that some people have been removed from the organisation but the institutional practices have not been changed yet.” Responding to another question, the Executive Director of TIB said, "Our research report is only about the projects under implementation with domestic financing. However, there were corruption in foreign-funded projects as well." According to the researchers, the projects completed between the FY2017-18 to FY2021-22 were included in the scope of this study (the implementation period of these projects is from FY2010-11 to FY2018-19). Read more: TIB urges reform of Information Commission, amendments to RTI Act  

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is prioritizing international organizations over climate-vulnerable countries in granting funds, contradicting its core principles, according to Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB). This has resulted in developing nations like Bangladesh being deprived of necessary support. TIB’s findings highlight GCF’s failures in fulfilling its mandate over the last 12 years, including inadequate fund collection from developed countries and the imposition of loans instead of grants on climate-vulnerable nations. TIB released the research “Accessing Green Climate Fund (GCF) for Vulnerable Countries like Bangladesh: Governance Challenges and Way Forward” during a press conference in Dhaka. This study, conducted from January 2023 to May 2024, used both qualitative and quantitative methods. UZ elections: Predominance of businessmen points to era of politics for profit, says TIB TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman criticized GCF’s stringent conditions, which have nearly barred developing countries from accessing funds. He emphasized that GCF’s failure to adhere to its principles has led to significant delays in fund transfers and insufficient grant amounts for the intended recipients. Dr. Iftekharuzzaman pointed out the GCF's preferential treatment of international organizations like the UNDP, IDB, ADB, and EBRD, calling it unacceptable and contradictory to the GCF’s mission. He also highlighted the problematic shift towards loans over grants, burdening countries like Bangladesh with additional financial strain. Furthermore, despite corruption allegations, the UNDP’s accreditation was renewed, undermining GCF’s zero-tolerance policy on corruption. DUJ, DRU, TIB condemn ban on journalists entering Bangladesh Bank The research revealed that GCF’s recognition process is overly complex and time-consuming, hindering vulnerable countries like Bangladesh from directly receiving funds. It found a disproportionate focus on mitigation over adaptation, with GCF failing to achieve a balanced 50:50 funding ratio or set a timeline for this goal. Despite the need for USD 215 to 387 billion, GCF provided only USD 5.9 billion for adaptation in developing countries. The study also noted a worrying trend of increasing loans compared to grants, contrary to the Polluters-pay-Principle that mandates developed countries to provide grant-based climate finance. Currently, 40.6% of GCF’s finance is in loans, while 41.6% is in grants, adding financial pressure on already burdened countries. In Bangladesh, the selection of the National Designated Authority (NDA) for GCF has been criticized for lack of transparency and clear policies. The accreditation process for government entities has seen significant delays, with four entities yet to receive accreditation after five years of attempts. A Bangladeshi organization had to wait two years for accreditation due to insufficient support from the GCF Secretariat. Arbitrary introduction of mergers caused further unrest in banking sector: TIB The analysis of GCF project financing revealed that Bangladesh has received inadequate funding for its climate needs. Of the USD 12 billion required by mid-2025, only USD 1.18 billion (9.9%) has been approved from various sources, with USD 448.8 million allocated from readiness and GCF funds (3.7%). Furthermore, GCF has allocated USD 256.4 million (76.9%) for mitigation projects and USD 76.8 million (23.1%) for adaptation projects in Bangladesh, with 75% of these funds as loans and only 25% as grants. Disbursement has been slow, with only 13.3% of funds released for Bangladesh's nine GCF projects, including a three-year delay for the first instalment of one project. The press conference featured TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, Adviser-Executive Management Professor Dr. Sumaiya Khair, Director of Research and Policy Muhammad Badiuzzaman, and Senior Research Fellow Md. Mahfuzul Haque. The event was led by TIB Director of Outreach and Communication Mohammad Tauhidul Islam, with research presentations by Research Fellow Newazul Moula and Research Associate Md. Shahidul Islam. TIB voices concern on relaxing wealth statement provision for govt servants  

Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today (January 18, 2024) said that the report of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) is “one-sided and anti-government.”  “They (TIB) are agents of BNP,” he said at a press briefing at the Awami League president’s office in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi this afternoon. “TIB speaks in the tune of BNP. History says that they were always against Awami League. They speak for BNP. We could not find impartiality of their research,” said the AL leader. “There are some organisations that talk about accidents. If a hundred die, they say five hundred died. TIB is like them. TIB and CPD said Padma Bridge is impossible. Filing a case doesn’t solve everything. Some are said for public perception. They will be dealt with politically,” he said. Read more: Top 5% contractors account for 26% market share in government procurement: TIB TIB in its report on Wednesday said Bangladesh’s 12th parliamentary election was “not free and not inclusive.” Quader acknowledged the existence of political tactics and conflicts within parties, asserting, “Conflicts are inherent in politics, and Awami League navigates through them under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina. The party remains united in addressing challenges wherever they arise.” Addressing upcoming local government elections, Quader said, “Decisions regarding local government elections, including upazilas, and the use of party symbols will be finalized in the Awami League board meeting.” When asked who would be the opposition party in the parliament, Quader responded, “Clarity on the opposition party will emerge once the session commences.” Regarding commodity prices, Quader noted, “Sheikh Hasina has provided instructions on commodity prices. Ministries are formulating action plans based on the ground reality, including price control measures.” Read more: Even if action can’t be taken now, strong measures will be taken after election: Quader on those whose wealth saw abnormal increase The press briefing was attended by AL Organizing Secretary BM Mozammel Haque, SM Kamal Hossain, Sujit Roy Nandi, among other leaders.