Bangladesh has been placed 13th lowest globally in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2025, scoring 24 out of 100, as per Transparency International. This ranking is one step lower than the previous year and two points below Bangladesh’s average from 2012 to 2025. The country stands as the second lowest in South Asia, surpassing only Afghanistan.
Bangladesh is among the 122 countries scoring below 50 and falls within the lowest quintile globally out of 182 nations. Described as having a “very serious corruption problem,” Bangladesh’s performance reflects a slight improvement attributed to the July uprising, which aimed at eliminating corruption.
Despite initial progress post-uprising, Bangladesh has faced ongoing corruption in political and governance sectors at both national and local levels. The failure to establish transparency, integrity, and accountability within the interim administration has hindered significant improvements in the overall corruption score.
Several nations, including Nepal, Laos, Vietnam, Timor-Leste, Ukraine, and Angola, have managed to enhance their CPI rankings by implementing comprehensive institutional reforms and digitalizing public services. The CPI 2025 highlights a global increase in corruption levels, emphasizing the importance of political leaders’ integrity and proactive anti-corruption measures.
Bangladesh’s interim government’s lack of a strategic reform agenda, especially concerning anti-corruption efforts, has resulted in a fragile state reform foundation. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) remains unreformed, impeding progress towards independence and effectiveness. The report underscores the urgent need for transparent, accountable governance to combat corruption effectively.
