Despite the post-uprising promise of sweeping state reforms, systemic graft has sharply intensified under the Muhammad Yunus-led interim regime, leaving citizens trapped in a deepening cycle of extortion.
A study by Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) reveals a devastating gap between public expectations and reality, showing that bribery and corruption escalated during the first year of the interim administration.
According to the TIB’s Household Survey report, a staggering Tk 1,263.32 crore was siphoned off in bribes between November 2024 and October 2025.
The interim government was formed on 8 August 2024 following the fall of Sheikh Hasina regime in a mass uprising and ended on 17 February 2026.
The TIB findings expose a stark trajectory. Under the interim government’s tenure, the national household victimisation rate for general corruption climbed by 15.1 per cent, whilst the rate for bribery specifically surged by 25.2 per cent. Ultimately, an overwhelming 81.6 per cent of citizens experienced corruption in at least one service sector, proving that despite a mass movement for change, systemic extortion remains deeply entrenched.
The judiciary and law enforcement agencies are leading a grim tally of widespread graft across public sectors, reveals the survey, adding citizens seeking justice and security are routinely forced to pay bribes.
The study found that 71.3 per cent of surveyed households fell victim to corruption while seeking justice-related services, while 69.4 per cent experienced corruption at the hands of law enforcement agencies.
Furthermore, 49.3 per cent of households reported paying bribes within the judiciary, compared to 39.6 per cent who bribed law enforcement officials.
The comprehensive survey evaluated 18 specific service sectors, collecting data across two phases from 1,149 randomly selected urban and rural areas across all eight divisions, utilising the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) sampling frame.
TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said that bribery has become an inescapable reality in the service sector, where citizens consistently find that basic services are withheld without illicit payments.
“Comparing the 2025 survey to 2023, he noted that the prevalence and depth of corruption have worsened, disproportionately targeting marginalised groups such as rural communities, women, and indigenous populations. Questioning the effectiveness of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC),” he said.
Iftekharuzzaman argued that graft thrives due to a lack of guaranteed punishment. He highlighted a severe crisis of trust in the watchdog, pointing out that while most participants know of the ACC, a mere 0.9% actually filed complaints.
Commenting on the rise of corruption during the interim government, Dr Badiul Alam Majumder, a governance expert and member of the National Consensus Commission formed during that tenure, told TIMES of Bangladesh, “Corruption and irregularities have now taken on a ubiquitous and all-consuming form. While the survey highlights which sectors are more or less affected, the grim reality is that corruption is widespread in almost all areas.”
He added that nearly every citizen has faced direct or indirect negative experiences with law enforcement, and noted that the judiciary has frequently become biased due to financial influence and power. “If the new government truly wants to deliver the benefits of good governance to the people, curbing corruption in these vital sectors must be their top priority,” Majumder emphasised.
Where is corruption in the judiciary?
A TIB official told TIMES that graft plagues various stages of the trial process. In law enforcement, high levels of corruption were observed across both general duties and criminal investigations, he said.
An analysis of the judicial system reveals that the district judge’s courts and civil courts see the highest level of misconduct, with 74.4 per cent of households involved in ongoing cases reporting corruption.
Special courts and tribunals follow closely at 69 per cent, whilst 67.1 per cent of those with cases under trial in magistrate and metropolitan criminal courts reported experiencing corruption.
Syed Mamun Mahbub, a senior Supreme Court lawyer, noted that the findings mirror the grim reality on the ground.
“The results of the TIB survey are remarkably close to reality,” Mahbub said. “Corruption in the judicial services and the law-and-order sector has been entrenched for a very long time. The problem is that our society has normalised corruption; many no longer feel any shame in engaging in it.”
According to Mahbub, escaping this cycle requires a fundamental shift in the mindset of both the state and society, alongside administrative reforms.
Echoing these concerns, another senior lawyer, Sarwar Ahmed, highlighted how pervasive the problem remains throughout the legal pipeline.
“People face corruption and harassment at every level, from filing a case affidavit to enforcing a court order,” Sarwar said. “Whether through financial transactions or influence peddling, it is incredibly difficult for justice-seekers to obtain clean services.”
Sarwar emphasised that systemic change is impossible until the independence of the judiciary is genuinely secured. “If an independent judicial secretariat is formed and a transparent system for appointing judges is introduced, it will be possible to curb corruption across a large part of the judiciary,” he said.
Passport, BRTA named most corrupt sectors
According to the survey, the passport service and the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) remain the most corrupt sectors for bribery, maintaining their positions from previous studies.
Overall, 81.5 per cent of surveyed families believe obtaining public services without paying a bribe is difficult.
Corruption trends have also risen or stagnated across agriculture, local government, land, education, and health.
Despite being victimised, 61.3 per cent of households did not file complaints, largely believing the entire system is corrupt.
Furthermore, nearly half had no idea how or where to lodge a grievance.
Only 29.5 per cent of households were aware of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), and a mere 1.4 per cent knew of the government’s Grievance Redressal System (GRS). Respondents noted that even when complaints were filed, they were frequently ignored.
Participants identified impunity, a lack of awareness, and the rewarding, rather than punishing, of corrupt officials as the primary drivers of graft.
The survey revealed that rural households face a higher bribery rate than urban ones (66 per cent versus 58.5 per cent), though urban families pay higher total sums.
Tragically, low-income households pay disproportionately more bribes relative to their income.
TIB emphasised that this environment disproportionately harms women, indigenous groups, and people with disabilities.
Finally, the report highlighted that whilst digital services have been introduced, they remain largely ineffective at curbing corruption. Consequently, service recipients still rely heavily on middlemen, perpetuating opportunities for bribery.
