Bangladesh has moved up two notches in the world corruption perceptions index, Transparency International revealed in a report published today.

In 2017, the country ranked as 17th most corrupt country in the world – a marginal improvement from the identity of 15th most corrupted country compared to 2016.

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), local branch of the global organisation, unveiled the report during a press conference held at its Dhanmondi office in Dhaka this morning.

Among the eight South Asian countries, Bangladesh’s position remains second lowest both in score and rank, better than only Afghanistan, the report said.

Transparency International Bangladesh Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman read out the finding while releasing the Corruption Perceptions Index – 2017.

“It may come as a temporary relief for us that our position improved a bit. But, we are not in a position to be happy as we still rank the second lowest among the eight SAARC nations,” said Dr Iftekharuzzaman.

“We still have to go a long way,” he added.

Bangladesh earned positive perception on potentials of legal, institutional and policy context, impression about benefits of digitisation including e-procurement, the report said.

The report addressed Bangladesh’s lacking in regard to addressing high-profile corruption, unabated land, river and water body grabbing, weakening accountable institutions, denial syndrome, impunity and shrinking media and civil society space.

It recommended to challenge impunity, professional integrity in public service, influence-free law enforcement agencies, robust access to information and increased space for media and civil society for Bangladesh.

Bangladesh was ranked the most corrupt country in the world when it was first included in the index in 2001.

Among the countries from South Asia, Bhutan is on top in with a score of 67, ranking 26 globally.

The world’s most corruption free country is New Zealand while Denmark is in second position. Somalia emerged as the most corrupt country once again this year.