DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENT
A US State Department report has identified corruption as a persistent and serious impediment to investment and economic growth in Bangladesh.
“Despite the interim government’s efforts to combat corruption, it remains common in public procurement, tax and customs collection, and among regulatory authorities,” said the 2025 Bangladesh Investment Climate Statement, released last Friday.
“Off-the-record payments by firms reduce Bangladesh’s GDP by two to three percent, according to some estimates,” it said
In its Bangladesh part, the report mentioned that Bangladesh is a party to the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) and has laws to combat bribery, embezzlement, and other forms of corruption.
“But enforcement is inconsistent,” it added.
The report helps US companies make informed business decisions by providing up-to-date information on the investment climates of more than 170 countries.
In the latest version, the report said the previous Awami League government publicly stated its commitment to fighting corruption, but opposition parties claimed the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) was instead used to harass political opponents.
It said the interim government has signalled a stronger anti-corruption stance. Since taking office, it reconstituted the ACC with new leadership.
It also said a sluggish and reportedly corrupt judicial system and limits on alternative dispute resolution mechanisms continue to impede the timely enforcement of contracts and the fair resolution of business disputes.
The report said the interim government’s enforcement of intellectual property (IPR) and labour rights remains ineffective.
Counterfeit goods are readily available, and the government does not prioritise or invest heavily in IPR protection.
US firms have reported IPR violations in apparel, consumer goods, movies, pharmaceuticals, and software.
Although Bangladesh is not in the 2025 US
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