Bangladesh faces highest bribery risk in South Asia: Report

Bangladesh has been identified as the highest risky country in terms of bribery threats in South Asia, said a latest international report.

In the updated index report titled Trace Bribery Risk Matrix, Bangladesh scored 72 this year which is two points higher than last year, meaning that the threat of the menace has grown stronger as it secures rank in the 178th position.  

With this Risk Score, bribery threat is the highest in the country than any other in South Asia, the Trace report said.

India and Pakistan are in the 78th and 153rd position.

Trace, headquartered in the United States and registered in Canada, is a globally recognised anti-bribery business association.

In the report, each country is given a score from 1 to 100 for each domain and for the total bribery risk. A higher score indicates a higher risk of business bribery, Trace said. 

Top five least risky countries in the world are: New Zealand, Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Finland.

Whereas, top most risky countries are: Venezuela, Yemen, North Korea, South Sudan and Somalia. 

Assessments of whether a given domain score is "good" or "poor" are made relative to all other jurisdictions within that domain.

1. Business Interactions with Government: Bangladesh receives a poor score of 86 in this domain, based on a high degree of government interaction, a high expectation of bribes, and a high regulatory burden.

2. Anti­bribery Deterrence and Enforcement: the country got 63 in this domain, based on a low quality of anti­bribery dissuasion and a low quality of anti­bribery enforcement.

3. Government and Civil Service Transparency: A medium score of 60 has been received in this domain, based on medium governmental transparency and poor transparency of financial interests.

4. Capacity for Civil Society Oversight: Bangladesh receives a poor score of 64 in this field, based on a low degree of media freedom/quality and a low degree of civil society engagement.