Dhaka: Passport services, Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), law enforcement, judiciary, and land sectors have been identified as the most corrupt during the previous Awami League government, as stated by Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB). According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the corruption survey conducted between May 2023 and April 2024 highlighted that judicial services, insurance, and land services sectors were notably involved in collecting the highest bribes or illegal money during this period. TIB unveiled the 'Corruption in Service Sectors: National Household Survey, 2023' at an event held at their office in Dhanmondi. The survey indicated that passport services topped the list with 86 percent corruption, followed by BRTA at 85.2 percent, law enforcement agencies at 74.5 percent, judicial services at 62.3 percent, and land services at 51 percent. Public healthcare and local government institutions were also marked by significant corruption. The anti-graft watchdog aimed to gauge the corruption encountered by service recipients from both government and private institutions. Comprehensive data was collected on 17 specific sectors, including education, health, local government, land, and agriculture. In 2023, 70.9 percent of households experienced corruption, and 50.8 percent fell victim to bribery. Bribery incidences were highest in passport services at 74.8 percent, followed closely by BRTA at 71.9 percent, and law enforcement agencies at 58.3 percent. Judicial and land services, along with local government institutions, also reported notable bribery rates. Households were compelled to pay an average of Tk 5,680 in bribes, with the highest amounts in judicial, land, and banking sectors. The national bribe total in 2023 was approximately Tk 10,902 crore, making up 1.43 percent of the national budget for the fiscal year 2023-24 and 0.22 percent of Bangladesh's GDP. Between 2009 and April 2024, the minimum estimated national bribery total in the service sector was Tk 146,252 cror e. The survey also found that women, religious minorities, indigenous people, and individuals with disabilities face exacerbated socio-economic challenges due to corruption. Women, in particular, are hindered in local governance and educational sectors, limiting their participation and progress. The findings are based on a nationwide survey of 15,515 households conducted from May 13 to August 3, 2024. These households faced corruption challenges between May 2023 and April 2024. TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman commented that the government's 'zero tolerance against corruption' claims remain largely rhetorical. Reports exposing corruption are often dismissed, and institutions designed to prevent corruption have seen their effectiveness and operational scope significantly reduced. He further noted that the public remains hostage to corruption due to the failure to address it. However, he mentioned that the current situation presents a critical opportunity; if the interim government acts decisively against corruption, it could set a valuable precedent for future governments to follow.
