Bangladesh: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has emphasized his party’s commitment to combat corruption and enhance governance in Bangladesh. In a recent statement on his verified Facebook account, Rahman underscored the BNP’s historical progress in tackling corruption under previous leaderships, including Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Rahman outlined the BNP’s past achievements in reforming governance and curbing corruption, highlighting the establishment of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) as a significant milestone. The ACC, which replaced the Bureau of Anti-Corruption in 2004, was recognized for aligning Bangladesh with international standards, gaining acknowledgment from global organizations like the World Bank and Asian Development Bank.
Rahman cited Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) data, which showed an improvement in the Corruption Perceptions Index during the BNP’s leadership, with Bangladesh’s score increasing from 1.2 in 2002 to 1.7 in 2005. He also referenced Transparency International’s Global Corruption Barometer (2003), which indicated a public perception of reduced corruption in the country.
In his statement, Rahman asserted that the BNP is the only political party in Bangladesh to have consistently made progress in reducing corruption. He emphasized the ongoing challenges faced by citizens due to systemic corruption, affecting various aspects of daily life, including employment, healthcare, and entrepreneurship.
Rahman outlined several achievements from the BNP’s past tenures, such as stronger financial governance, early procurement reforms, market liberalization, and civil service improvements. He also presented a forward-looking agenda focused on institutional independence, transparency, judicial reform, deregulation, whistleblower protection, ethics education, and stronger financial oversight.
Rahman concluded by expressing the BNP’s readiness to lead the fight against corruption again, should the party be entrusted by the public. He highlighted the importance of commitment, discipline, and public support in achieving meaningful reform and progress in combating corruption in Bangladesh.