Dhaka, April 24, 2025 — A new investigative report has revealed how deep-rooted corruption is significantly hampering Bangladesh’s development ambitions, raising concerns over the country’s path toward achieving developed-nation status by 2041.
According to the findings, corruption continues to plague key sectors such as infrastructure, healthcare, and local governance, often resulting in incomplete projects, wasted public funds, and mismanagement of critical services. The report highlights numerous cases of “ghost roads”—roads that exist only on paper—and hospitals that were built but remain non-functional due to lack of equipment, staffing, or transparent oversight.
“We found millions allocated for infrastructure that either never materialized or crumbled within months of completion,” said one of the lead researchers. “This is not just about financial loss—this affects real lives.”
Healthcare has also been severely impacted. The report documents hospitals in rural areas that are either closed or operating with only a fraction of their required resources. Essential medicines are often missing, and patients are routinely forced to seek treatment at private facilities, often at unaffordable costs.
Civil society organizations have long called for stronger anti-corruption mechanisms, and this latest report is expected to intensify pressure on the government. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has responded by promising new investigations and pledging to take legal action against individuals and contractors responsible for fraud.
Despite the country’s impressive growth in areas like garment exports and digital connectivity, experts warn that unless systemic corruption is tackled, the benefits of economic development will remain uneven and fragile.
“The future of Bangladesh depends not only on economic numbers but on governance, accountability, and justice,” said a political analyst based in Dhaka.
The government has yet to issue a formal response to the report.