Zakir Hossain / Dhaka
Transparency International (TI) chairman Francois Valerian has said corruption in Bangladesh has not been eradicated even after the July 2024 uprising that toppled Sheikh Hasina’s regime.
“Corruption still exists, but it’s too early to say whether it has increased or decreased,” Valerian told reporters in Dhaka, adding that graft had surged in the final years of authoritarian rule and remains a concern.
He urged that cases against powerful figures be brought to judicial conclusion, warning that harassment of journalists and activists undermines accountability. “Informing citizens and uncovering the truth are essential for democracy, and therefore, journalists must be protected,” he said.
Valerian noted that nearly USD 16 billion was laundered annually under the Awami League, much of it spent on luxury assets abroad or channelled into capital markets, fuelling inflation. TI is helping recover such funds, he said, citing the confiscation of £185 million in London through a joint initiative by TI Bangladesh (TIB), TI UK and Spotlight on Corruption.
“This visit is not merely symbolic; its purpose is to express full support and solidarity with the global anti-corruption movement,” said Valerian, who toured Maldives and Sri Lanka before arriving in Dhaka.
TIB executive director Iftekharuzzaman stressed the need to block illicit transfers, saying: “If there are no opportunities to transfer money abroad, launderers will have no means to do so.”