Published: 20 August 2025
On 19 August 2025, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) delegation visited Bogura to witness how Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) transforms communities through citizen engagement. What they found was a powerful demonstration of democracy at work—where ordinary people drive extraordinary change.
At YMCA Hall, three generations came together. Professor Md. Osman Gani led the Committee of Concerned Citizens (CCC), while youth activist Maruf Mondal presented their achievements. The room buzzed with stories of victories and challenges. FCDO officials asked tough questions. Local activists answered with conviction. This wasn't just a meeting—it was proof that when citizens organize, they become unstoppable.
At Ninail Government Primary School, 50 parents gathered to speak truth to power. They praised improvements but didn't hold back on problems: missing complaint boxes, no cleaning staff, delayed stipends for poor families. YES member Sohag Kumar Roy moderated while parents shared frustrations and hopes. Every voice mattered. Every concern was recorded. Then ACG Coordinator Abhilash Chandra Sarkar presented community findings to Head Teacher Mohammad Abdul Kuddus. The response was immediate: complaint box installation, sports equipment procurement, stronger teaching in core subjects. It proves that, evidence-based advocacy works.
The FCDO team—Political Adviser Timothy Duckett, Programme Management Adviser Bishojit Deb, and Assistant Political Officer Sharmin Jahan—saw TIB's model in action. Accompanied by TIB's Ferhana Ferdous and Atikur Rahman, they witnessed how sustainable change happens when citizens have tools, platforms, and persistence. The FCDO delegation left with concrete proof that community-driven anti-corruption efforts work and this is how transparency wins.
