Bangladesh has been ranked thirteen among the most corrupt countries in the latest ratings by Transparency International (TI).
The country’s position in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) of the TI was 17th last year.
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman unveiled the report at a press conference in Dhanmondi’s Midas Centre on Tuesday morning.
Bangladesh ranked 149 in the world, six places lower than where it stood in 2017, earning two points lower.
The 2018 CPI draws on 13 surveys and expert assessments to measure public sector corruption in 180 countries and territories, giving each a score from zero (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).
More than two-thirds of countries score below 50, with an average score of only 43. Since 2012, only 20 countries have significantly improved their scores, including Estonia and Côte D’Ivoire, and 16 have significantly declined, including, Australia, Chile and Malta.
Denmark and New Zealand top the Index with 88 and 87 points, respectively. Somalia, South Sudan, and Syria are at the bottom of the index, with 10, 13 and 13 points, respectively.
The highest scoring region is Western Europe and the European Union, with an average score of 66, while the lowest scoring regions are Sub-Saharan Africa (average score 32) and Eastern Europe and Central Asia (average score 35).