Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has revealed that the interim government’s efforts over the past one and a half years to lay the foundations for justice, state reform and credible elections remain fragile and, in many areas, have fallen short of public expectations.
The observations were presented on Monday at a press briefing at the TIB conference room, marking the release of the research report titled “One and a half years after the fall of authoritarianism: expectations and outcomes.” The report reviews the interim administration’s performance ahead of the planned handover of power following national elections.
According to the report, state institutions have failed to ensure the free flow of information, citing non-disclosure of major public-interest contracts, including in the power sector and Chattogram port and the removal of an ICT Task Force draft from the Prime Minister’s Office website without explanation.
The report noted that limited progress has been made in prosecuting crimes against humanity committed during the July uprising. The International Crimes Tribunal(ICT) has resumed operations, with cases filed against 209 individuals, including former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, based on around 450 complaints. Eighty-four suspects have been arrested.
However, TIB flagged serious concerns, including the alleged escape of many accused persons with possible assistance from law enforcement agencies, indiscriminate filing of cases, politically motivated harassment, and what it described as arrest trade.
Although a commission has been formed to investigate enforced disappearances and 1,569 complaints have been identified, TIB said there has been no visible progress in reforming intelligence agencies.
The interim government formed 11 reform commissions that submitted recommendations, leading to the establishment of the National Consensus Commission on 13 February 2025. After consultations with 33 political parties, the July National Charter was drafted, with 24 parties signing on, while six stayed out due to political disagreements.
TIB observed that key sectors such as education and agriculture were excluded from the reform agenda without explanation and that several important recommendations were diluted or dropped due to bureaucratic resistance. As a result, the reform process has lost focus and momentum.
Iftekharuzzaman, director of TIB, said, “Although the interim government attempted to lay the groundwork for justice, reform and elections, the foundations remain weak and vulnerable. The historic opportunity created by the July Uprising has been overshadowed by gaps, missteps and the risk of derailment.”
Legal reforms include reconstitution of the Election Commission, abolition of EVM, introduction of a “yes” vote and postal ballots for expatriates.
Despite these steps, TIB noted that most recommendations of the election reform commission were not adopted and doubts persist among political parties over the neutrality of the EC. The report also warned of heightened risks of pre-election violence and political killings.
Iftekharuzzaman identified the use of black money, muscle power and religion as major obstacles to creating a level playing field in the electoral process.
An economic white paper revealed that an estimated $234 billion was siphoned off from the country between 2009 and 2024. While corruption cases are ongoing, TIB said the government lacks the capacity to recover laundered funds despite apparent intent.
Although the Anti-Corruption Commission initiated thousands of inquiries, asset freezes and wealth declarations, TIB asserted these actions lacked a coherent national strategy and remained vulnerable to selective enforcement and bureaucratic influence. Recovery of laundered funds has been minimal.
The report said that while some officials previously sidelined on political grounds have been promoted, the absence of clear criteria and continued emphasis on political loyalty have raised concerns. Steps toward judicial independence include establishing a separate secretariat and forming a Supreme Judicial Council, but progress has been slow.
Law and order was identified as the weakest area of the interim government’s tenure, with continued incidents of murder, robbery and mob violence. Police reform has largely been limited to transfers and promotions, while the proposed Police Commission ordinance risks becoming a tool for bureaucratic overreach, TIB warned.
Iftekharuzzaman said, “Administrative decision-making has increasingly taken on an ad hoc or pick-and-choose character, with weak coordination among authorities contributing to growing public insecurity.”
Political parties participated in dialogue but remained deeply polarised, contributing to violence and patronage politics. Civil society engagement declined after initial consultations, while journalists faced continued threats despite modest improvements in press freedom rankings. The military played a stabilising role during the transition but remained largely outside accountability mechanisms.
TIB linked these outcomes to persistent governance deficits-weak rule of law, limited state capacity, poor transparency and lack of accountability-warning that without corrective action, the interim period risks reproducing the same institutional failures that marked previous regimes.
The report also criticised the government’s failure to uphold transparency commitments, citing the non-disclosure of advisers’ asset statements and the absence of any initiative to make public officials’ wealth declarations accessible.
Linking these outcomes to persistent governance deficits – weak rule of law, limited state capacity, lack of transparency and accountability – TIB warned that without corrective action, the interim period risks reproducing the same institutional failures that characterised previous regimes.
