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TIB credited the government with scrapping lawmakers’ duty-free car and plot privileges, limiting the prime minister’s VVIP protocol, ending DC and SP protocol for ministers, signing agreements with three countries to recover laundered money, and announcing 180-day work plans for ministries.

The anti-graft body, however, noted that no visible steps had been taken to form the Anti-Corruption Commission, National Human Rights Commission and Information Commission, putting corruption control, human rights protection and the free flow of information at long-term risk.

On lawmaking, the report said converting 97 of the 133 interim government ordinances into laws was commendable.

“But key ordinances on judicial independence, human rights protection, anti-corruption and the prevention of enforced disappearances were repealed or suspended instead of being passed with limited amendments, signalling a retreat from reform pledges.”

At the same time, laws on cyber security, personal data protection, national data management, telecommunications regulation and public audit were passed without the expected amendments, strengthening executive authority, it said.

On public administration, the report said partisan considerations continued to influence appointments, postings, transfers and promotions despite pledges to build a merit-based administration.

“A culture of ‘now it’s our turn’ was visible among many ruling party leaders, activists and supporters, sections of the bureaucracy, business community and professionals.”

Partisan considerations also persisted in the police, public administration, state institutions, Bangladesh Bank, commercial banks, local government bodies and educational institutions, it added.

Iftekharuzzaman said political considerations in appointments could not disappear overnight.

“But appointees must have the competence and conflict-free standing needed to perform professionally,” he said, citing the appointments of the Bangladesh Bank governor and university vice-chancellors as examples.

In education, 19 university vice-chancellors were removed before completing their tenures without explanation. Their replacements were appointed on political considerations despite the existence of search committees, the report said.

On the ACC, the report noted that the commission’s activities had been almost suspended since its chairman and commissioners resigned on March 3, although the law requires the body to be reconstituted within 30 days.

“It [inaction regarding the ACC] is telling corrupt people, ‘we are protecting you’, and telling ordinary people that corruption is normal,” Iftekharuzzaman said, calling the delay embarrassing.

On law and order, TIB said the government had declared zero tolerance for mob culture and warned against extortion.

“But control over markets, transport routes, bus and truck terminals, the drug trade, theft and mugging remained visible amid allegations of political and administrative patronage.”

The report also said attacks on shrines and religious figures continued, citing incidents at Shah Ali shrine in Dhaka and the attack on a pir in Kushtia. It described such incidents as ominous for free thought, cultural diversity and peaceful coexistence.

On press freedom, TIB said 188 journalists were harassed or affected in 130 incidents. Cases were filed against 12 journalists, while seven were arrested.

It also criticised the continuation of legal action over social media posts and the government’s decision to keep the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre operational despite the interim government’s move to abolish it.

Iftekharuzzaman said the overall 100-day record was “encouraging and promising in one sense, but worrying in another” due to the absence of a clear roadmap for governance, anti-corruption efforts and accountable institutions.

He identified resistance from a section of the bureaucracy, along with political actors who view power as a source of personal gain, as the main obstacles to reform.