TI report motivated and faulty

Rejecting the Transparency International report, Information Minister Hasan Mahmud yesterday claimed that the report was motivated and faulty.

He made the remarks while talking to reporters on the TI report at the secretariat.

According to the TI report unveiled on Tuesday, Bangladesh ranks the second most corrupt country in South Asia, only ahead of war-torn Afghanistan. Its global position is 149th out of 180 countries surveyed last year, which is 13th from the bottom.

The Transparency International, Bangladesh (TIB), the Bangladesh chapter of the Berlin-based graft watchdog, shared the findings of the global survey on the day.

Reacting to the report, Hasan said, “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.

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

Responding to a question whether they would reject the report, he said, “Definitely... it's a motivated report."

Replying to another query, the minister said the ACC already sought an explanation from the TIB about the report. He would also ask the TIB to tell the ACC the basis of the report.

He added that the TIB earlier published another report ahead of the general election to implement BNP's agenda.

Around 80 percent of the report echoed the allegations of BNP, the minister said, adding, “So, it's clear that they [TIB] want to implement the agenda of a specific political party.”

Hasan said the 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 added.

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

“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has announced a zero tolerance policy against corruption. When Bangladesh is being praised globally and by the World Bank for curbing corruption, the TIB has published a faulty report to defame the country's people,” Hasan added.