The police department is the most corrupt public institution in the country, followed by the lower judiciary, according to a household survey report released by the Transparency International, Bangladesh (TIB).

The survey conducted among 3,030 Bangladeshis between November 2001 and May 2002 found the respondents having to bribe the police Tk 2,066 crore during the survey period. Also, the respondents had to pay Tk 1,135 crore in bribes to lower court employees. The TIB report identifies the land administration as the third most corrupt public service institution in Bangladesh where 73 per cent respondents reported corrupt practices.

The percentages of respondents who encountered corruption in healthcare, education and taxation services are 55.53 per cent, 39.73 per cent, 32 per cent and 19.25 per cent respectively.
In land administration, officials and employees extracted Tk 1,515 crore in bribes from the respondents during the said period, the survey report said.

Source: The Daily Star, 18 December 2002