Press Release
Dhaka, 29 December 2025: Members of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) have remarked that there is no alternative to the victory of "Yes" in the referendum to maintain the continuity of state reforms and ensure a fair 13th National Parliamentary Election, with the goal of building a discrimination-free Bangladesh and establishing an effective democratic state system in light of the July Charter. At the same time, they called on political parties to clearly state in their manifestos the roadmap for full implementation of the July Charter and their position on the referendum. In a declaration after the annual meeting, members associated with TIB on a voluntary basis also strongly demanded that political parties express their commitment in their election manifestos so that the recommendations discussed in the National Consensus Commission but not included in the July Charter, as well as the proposed recommendations of the reform commissions that remained outside the discussion, especially those related to the media, women, labor, health, and local government, are not forgotten.
The annual meeting, attended by members of various classes and professions, was held at the organisation's Dhanmondi office, moderated by TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman. Members participated in the meeting both in person and online. They commented positively on various activities, including research, advocacy, and campaigns conducted by TIB, as well as the highest standard audit reports of the relevant financial accounts, and expressed satisfaction with the overall activities.
TIB members believe that the responsibility of the interim government in the upcoming election is to take steps to create an effective environment for exercising the right to vote, fulfilling the public's expectation for free and unhindered expression of opinion that emerged with the end of authoritarianism, and ensuring a level playing field for all political parties. In addition, all concerned parties, including the government, must play an active role so that the public engagement activities of the national election do not, in any way, degenerate into the old practice of demonstrating money and muscle power. Expressing concern over the provocative behavior of fanatical groups and the growing trend of misusing religion as political capital, they strongly demanded that the political parties highlight their commitment or resolve to prevent the misuse of religion in their election manifestos. At the same time, they called on political parties to reflect in their election manifestos their commitment to equal rights, harmony, and coexistence for marginalised communities, all genders including men and women, physical and mental disabilities, and social, cultural, and ethnic groups, while maintaining the bond with which the entire country fought together regardless of caste, religion, or creed in the anti-discrimination movement against authoritarianism to build a well-governed and non-communal Bangladesh.
TIB members consider the incidents of vandalism and arson at the offices of the country's leading media outlets, Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, the attack on New Age Editor Nurul Kabir, and the vandalism of the cultural institution Chhayanaut as an expression of the power of extremist communal forces over media freedom, protection, and cultural heritage, and they strongly condemn such barbaric attacks. TIB members believe that if exemplary measures had been taken in the cases of previous attacks on Baul artists, hate speech against the Ahmadiyya community, indigenous people, and minorities, and attacks on various shrines across the country, extremists would not have dared to commit these heinous acts. They strongly urged the government to identify those involved in every incident and ensure exemplary punishment to protect the freedom of thought and conscience, diverse cultural practices, and the freedom of every religion and belief.
The declaration further stated that by ignoring the recommendation to form a "Selection and Review Committee" and giving final approval to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Ordinance, 2025, a deliberate death has been caused to an important strategic step. Omitting this recommendation despite TIB’s consistent advocacy and the consensus of all political parties is not only disappointing but also raises valid concerns about a deep crisis in the government’s commitment to the goal of state reform. At the same time, TIB members expressed deep concern over the lack of any steps taken to follow the recommendations of the ACC Reform Commission for institutional reform of the ACC, including the prevention of corruption within the commission. They further stated that the recently gazetted National Human Rights Commission and Police Commission Ordinances reflect the government's visible submission to the anti-reform vested quarters. The interim government has made serious fundamental, strategic, and structural changes to the Police Commission Ordinance, 2025, trampling on the possibility of establishing an independent police commission as a key catalyst for forming a transparent and accountable police system under the long-standing public demand, consistent advocacy of stakeholders, and the goal of state reform. TIB members believe that this ordinance is a literal betrayal of the unprecedented opportunity for police system reform that arose in the context of the bloody July mass uprising.
Similarly, TIB members believe that the process of forming the National Human Rights Commission has been brought under bureaucratic control by making conspiratorial fundamental changes to the National Human Rights Commission Ordinance, 2025. To maintain the authoritarian practice of government control, the inclusion of the "Cabinet" Secretary in the selection committee while keeping the relevant stakeholders involved in the ordinance-making process in the dark has completely shattered the possibility of forming a commission outside the government's sphere of influence. They called upon the government to overhaul the aforementioned ordinances through immediate amendments.
Noting that women's contributions at the state level have not been evaluated post-2024 uprising, and social discrimination, harassment, and violent incidents against women have increased, TIB members said that harassment of women on the streets has increased significantly due to the online and public activities, behavior, and comments of a group of extremists, misogynistic people. Incidents of verbal abuse and, in some cases, physical and sexual harassment are also taking place. At the same time, research has shown that lack of a decent working environment, lack of safety in movement, and violence are having a negative impact on women's participation in the workplace, which they find very alarming. TIB members called on all relevant stakeholders, including the government, to play an active role in removing social, cultural, and religious barriers to end all forms of discrimination against women.
In the declaration, TIB members expressed deep disappointment that despite the interim government taking various steps for state reform, no visible steps have been taken to make the Information Commission effective or to carry out necessary reforms to the Right to Information Act, even after requests and recommendations from civil society. They strongly urged the government to end the long-standing stalemate of the commission by appointing qualified and conflict-of-interest-free individuals as commissioners through a transparent process.
TIB members demanded that the government strengthen its initiatives to identify, freeze, and immediately return assets laundered from Bangladesh to foreign countries. In this regard, they called on the Bangladesh government to play a more active role in bringing money launderers to justice by actively identifying the legal processes of the destination countries of laundered assets and utilising international processes such as mutual legal assistance, relevant expert, and specialised support to return stolen assets. They also urged the government to take effective initiatives to prevent ongoing money laundering. Furthermore, they strongly demanded the formation of an independent Bank Commission consisting of neutral, reputable, conflict-of-interest-free experts to establish good governance in the banking and financial sector; the abolition of the financial institutions under the Ministry of Finance to end the dual governance system in controlling and supervising state-owned banks; and the assurance of exemplary punishment for individuals, Bangladesh Bank, and commercial bank officials and directors involved in banking sector irregularities and corruption, including loan fraud and deception.
The meeting concluded with a call to all concerned parties to work together to establish democracy, good governance, and build a corruption-free society with the goal of ending all forms of exploitation and discrimination by upholding the spirit of the Language Movement, the Liberation War, and the Anti-Discrimination Movement through the practice of honesty, values, ethics, transparency, fairness, and accountability.
Media Contact:
Mohammad Tauhidul Islam
Director, Outreach and Communication
Mobile: 01713-107868
E-mail: tauhidul@ti-bangladesh.org
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