‘TIB report aimed at implementing agenda of specific political party’

Information minister Hasan Mahmud has rejected the TIB’s report that the corruption is rising in Bangladesh, reports UNB.

"The method the TIB followed in preparing the graft index was faulty. They didn't make it clear which method they followed. That means their methodology is faulty," he told newsmen at the secretariat on Wednesday.

Responding to a question whether they will reject the report, the information minister said, "Definitely... it's a motivated report."

According to the report of Transparency International, Bangladesh (TIB), Bangladesh ranks second most corrupt country in South Asia while 149 in the world, the 13th from the bottom.

The report, which was published on Tuesday, is faulty and politically motivated, the information minister alleged.

Hasan Mahmud said, "If there's any specific allegation, I would like to request TIB to inform the government and the Anti-Corruption Commission. The government will take action.”

The minister said, "The ACC has already sought explanation from them over the report. I'll also ask TIB to tell ACC on which information they made the report."

Earlier, TIB published another report ahead of the general election to implement the BNP's agenda, he said.

The minister pointed out, "There was 80 per cent similarity of their report with the allegations of BNP. So, it's clear that they want to implement the agenda of a specific political party."

Hasan Mahmud said TIB also raised voice that there had been corruption in Padma bridge project and then the World Bank stopped financing the project. However, the allegation was proved wrong later, he said.

The World Bank filed a case with the court of Canada where it was defeated, he said adding, "We thought TIB would seek mercy from the nation after their defeat, but they didn't," said the minister.

"Prime minister Sheikh Hasina has announced zero tolerance against corruption. When Bangladesh is being praised globally and by the World Bank for curbing corruption at that moment TIB has published a faulty report to defame the country's people."