Tk1.46 lakh cr in bribes paid for services since 2009, passport most corrupt: TIB
The survey says 70.9% of households experienced corruption while availing services from various sectors
The highest incidents of corruption were reported by Bangladeshis seeking services at the passport, Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) and law enforcement offices, according to a Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) survey.
Between 2009 and April 2024, public service seekers paid an estimated Tk1.46 lakh crore in bribes for various essential services, with Tk10,902.3 crore in bribes paid in 2023 alone. On average, the highest bribes were paid for judicial services.
Findings of the survey, " Corruption in Service Sectors: National Household Survey 2023", were unveiled at a press conference at the TIB conference hall in the capital today (3 December).
The survey covered 15,515 households, consisting of 51.4% males, 48.5% females, and 0.1% from the third gender. Among household heads, 23.4% were involved in agriculture or fisheries.
Around 70.9% of households encountered various forms of corruption – bribery, irregularities, delays, misbehaviour and harassment – when accessing services across different sectors, with over 50% facing bribery.
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The survey revealed that 86% of households experienced corruption while seeking passport services, 85.2% for BRTA services, 74.5% for law enforcement, 62.3% for judicial services, 51.0% for land services, 49.1% for health services and 44.2% for local government services.
The average bribe across all service sectors was Tk5,680. Households that paid bribes spent an average of Tk30,972 for judicial services, Tk11,776 for land services, Tk6,681 for banking, Tk6,654 for BRTA services, Tk5,221 for law enforcement and Tk4,879 for passport services.
The survey also reveals that the per capita bribe in these service sectors was Tk671.
Among the divisions, Barishal recorded the highest rates of corruption and bribery, with 82% of households facing corruption and 61.9% subjected to bribery. In contrast, Rangpur had the lowest rates, with 60.9% of households experiencing corruption and 29.7% facing bribery.
Dr Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of TIB, said, "This survey provides a snapshot of the prevalence of corruption in Bangladesh, particularly in the service sectors. It is the 10th national household survey on corruption in service delivery, covering both public and some private institutions, with a focus on bribery and corruption in accessing services."
He said, "People do not hate corrupt people. They are the chief guests at various events. Social resistance against corruption must be built. Accountability must be ensured. Legal action must be taken against those involved in corruption."
Reasons for bribery
Households said bribes had to be paid to come by timely services, to avoid complications and harassment. A lack of knowledge about official charges is another reason behind bribery.
The survey shows a slight difference in corruption rates between rural and urban areas. In rural areas, 71.8% of households reported experiencing corruption, compared to 69% in urban areas.
However, bribery is more prevalent in rural areas. In rural areas, 52.4% of households reported paying bribes, while the rate in urban areas is slightly lower at 47.4%.
The majority (59.6%) of households included in the survey are unaware of the various mechanisms available for filing complaints about corruption, while 30.1% know about the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), 16.4% are aware of filing complaints to the relevant officials, and 4.6% know about using the websites or hotlines of the respective institutions.
Among households affected by corruption, 91.5% did not lodge any complaints, while the remaining 8.5% lodged complaints through various channels.
Of the households that lodged complaints, 87.8% reported their grievances to relevant senior officials, 16.5% to public representatives, and 0.6% to the ACC.
Regarding action taken in response to the complaints, 50.9% of cases saw no action from the respective institutions, and in 19.6% of cases, the complaints were not even acknowledged.
TIB recommendations to curb corruption
Based on the survey findings, TIB has proposed some recommendations for implementation at the policy-making and institutional levels.
TIB said that legal action must be taken against individuals involved in corruption within service sectors. In this regard, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) as well as the relevant departments and institutions should play an active role where applicable.
Services must be fully digitised to eliminate the need for direct interaction between service recipients and providers.
A 'one-stop' service should be implemented in all service-providing institutions, and its effective execution must be ensured.
Each service-providing institution must develop a modern code of conduct for service providers and delivery.
The citizen charters of relevant service-providing institutions must be regularly updated with information on service fees and the time required to receive services and displayed in prominent locations.
To eliminate customer harassment and strengthen grievance redress mechanisms in service sectors, the Grievance Redress System (GRS) should utilize complaints through SMS, email, websites, and other channels, and maintain a register to document them.
