Bangladesh must accede to the Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters so as to adopt and implement the Common Reporting Standards (CRS) to ensure transparency in financial transactions, both national and international. View Details
Criminalize private sector bribery as a distinct offense consistent with Bangladesh’s commitment under Article 21 of the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). View Details
End-to-end automation must be introduced in services of all public institutions, particularly police stations, registry offices, revenue offices, passport offices, as well as relevant institutions in sectors like education, health, local government, district and sub-district administrations and utility providers. View Details
Ensure transparency and integrity in political and electoral financing through necessary reforms to electoral laws: * Political parties and election candidates must make details of their funding and income-expenditure publicly accessible. * The Election Commission should, with the assistance of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) and the ACC verify the completeness and accuracy of income and wealth information provided under candidates’ affidavits and take appropriate actions, where necessary. * All public representatives of all levels must submit detailed income and asset statements of themselves and their family members to the Election Commission within three months of taking office and update annually. The Election Commission must publish these declarations on its website. * Political parties must refrain from granting party positions or nominations for elections to individuals involved in corruption or irregularities. View Details
The Mass Media Reforms Commission has attached a draft ordinance for a Journalism Protection Act to this report, based on a few examples of best practices worldwide. It proposes taking steps to issue it quickly. Furthermore, it deems the following steps appropriate regarding the incidents of misuse of various laws over the past 15 years: a. Cases filed against journalists under various applicable laws, including the Penal Code, Information and Communication Technology Act, Digital Security Act, Cyber Security Act, and Contempt of Court Act, must be identified and reviewed. Based on the information obtained after the review, the concerned government prosecutor must take appropriate steps to withdraw the cases or have the police submit the final report. b. If evidence of false cases is found upon review, legal and just action must be taken against the concerned authorities. c. Arrangements must be made to compensate affected journalists and their families. d. Affected media organisations must be provided with reasonable compensation. e. Incidents of illegal intrusion, surveillance, and eavesdropping into journalists’ communications and lives must be investigated, and arrangements must be made to punish the culprits. View Details
Through an appropriate legal framework, all information related to the identity of the real or ultimate beneficial owner of a company, trust, or foundation must be registered and made publicly accessible in the public interest. View Details
To prevent abuse of state and legal power, enact a law to resolve and prevent conflict of interest. View Details
Permanently abolish any State practice that legitimizes income from illegitimate sources. View Details
At the initiative of the State, a National Anti-Corruption Strategy must be adopted, replacing the current National Integrity Strategy 2010, that shall specify the anti-corruption roles and responsibilities of various State and non-State institutions. And an Office of Ombudsman under Article 77 of the Constitution must be established through appropriate legislation, and empowered to ensure proper implementation of this strategy. View Details
