Corruption has not been eradicated from Bangladesh even after the July mass uprising that toppled the previous government, said Transparency International chair Fran莽ois Val茅rian on Thursday.
鈥楥orruption still exists. But it鈥檚 too early to say whether it has increased or decreased,鈥� Val茅rian told a press conference at the Transparency International Bangladesh office in Dhaka.
Asked about the current corruption situation, he said, 鈥楧uring the final years of the authoritarian rule, corruption rose significantly. Even after the political change in August past year, corruption has not ended.鈥�
Val茅rian stressed that cases involving powerful and聽 influential figures must be pursued properly through judicial processes and concluded with final judgments.
鈥楥ountries that have done this have improved their scores on the Corruption Perceptions Index,鈥� he said.
On attacks on and threats against journalists, Val茅rian said, 鈥業f journalists, civil society actors, and human rights defenders face harassment, intimidation, or violence, then ending abuse of power and ensuring accountability is impossible.鈥�
He said that protecting journalists was vital because informing citizens and exposing the truth are fundamental to democracy.
Addressing the challenges faced by the interim government, the TI chair said, 鈥楾he challenges are high and I feel that the interim government is aware and genuinely willing to address those challenges. Corruption did not vanish from the country after fall of the authoritarian regime. But there are reforms that are being worked on. Some of them have started, some of them are being implemented and that is what counts.鈥�
Val茅rian said that during the Awami League government, which was ousted in August, 2024, an estimated $16 billion was laundered from Bangladesh annually. TI is assisting efforts to recover those illicit funds.
鈥業t is crucial to know where the stolen money is. Civil society must be aware of it and be part of the legal process so that these assets can be confiscated,鈥� he said.
Referring to a recent case in London, where British pound 185 million worth of assets were confiscated, Val茅rian credited the joint initiative of the TI Bangladesh, TI UK, and the UK-based Spotlight on Corruption.
鈥楥ivil society played its role, and British authorities acted,鈥� he said.
Globally, around $1 trillion is stolen each year, funds that could have supported education, healthcare, infrastructure, and climate policies, Val茅rian added.
He further said that much of the laundered money was spent on luxury homes and cars by corrupt leaders, but the bigger share goes into capital markets, fuelling inflation and harming economies.
The TI chair also stressed ensuring sustainable reform to build a new Bangladesh.
TIB executive director Iftekharuzzaman at the press conference emphasised the need for preventive measures against money laundering.
鈥業f there is no opportunity to send money abroad, launderers will fail. We must sharpen existing tools and enforce laws more rigorously to stop illicit outflows,鈥� he said.
鈥楾he average annual outflow of 16 billion dollars from Bangladesh during the rule of the fallen authoritarian government is only a partial estimate; the actual amount laundered is much higher,鈥� he added.
Francois Valerian arrived in Dhaka on Tuesday on a three-day visit and this is his first trip to Bangladesh since being elected as the chair of the TI鈥檚 International Board in 2023.
