TDS Desk:

People had to pay around Tk1.46 lakh crore in bribes to access essential facilities during the Awami League’s autocratic rule over the country between 2009 and April 2024, according to a report from the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB).

The survey report also revealed that 70.9% people faced corruption while seeking services in 2023 alone.

The findings were disclosed on Tuesday at TIB’s office in the capital during the launch of its report titled “Corruption in Service Sectors: National Household Survey 2023”.

TIB said that the estimate of Tk 1.46 lakh crore in bribes was derived from six national household surveys conducted in 2010, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2021, and 2023.

According to the 2023 survey, service seekers paid Tk 10,902.3 crore in bribes to access services, which accounts for 0.22% of the GDP for the 2023-24 fiscal year.

The findings are based on a survey of 15,515 households conducted nationwide between 13 May and 3 August this year on their experience during May 2023-April 2024.

The report identified the Department of Immigration and Passports, Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, and different wings of the police were the most corruption-prone service sectors. These three departments also topped the 2021 survey, with the police being the most graft-ridden, followed by the Passport Department and then the BRTA.

At the press briefing, TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman stressed the need to hold those involved in corruption accountable to effectively curb the issue.

He said that there are several tools available to combat corruption, but the lack of proper utilisation of these tools has contributed to the persistence of high-level corruption.

Iftekharuzzaman expressed hope that during the interim government, examples of accountability would be set, paving the way for better practices in the future.