BBS survey flags BRTA as most bribe-prone public office

Bribery is highest in Noakhali and lowest in Chapainawabganj

Officials of the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) have taken the highest amount of bribes while delivering public services, according to a nationwide survey by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS).

The study finds that 63.29 percent of BRTA service recipients had to pay bribes.

The findings come from a countrywide study conducted in February to assess citizens’ experiences in accessing government services.

On Wednesday, the BBS presented the final report of the Citizen Perception Survey (CPS) 2025 at a press conference in Agargaon, Dhaka.

The event was attended by Statistics and Informatics Division Secretary Aleya Akter.

Data from the survey show that higher-income citizens are more likely to pay bribes than low-income groups when seeking public services.

CPS Project Director Rashed-E-Mastahub said opinions were collected from 84,807 citizens aged 18 and above who sought government services in 2024.

After BRTA, law-enforcing agencies ranked second in bribery prevalence, with 57.96 percent of service seekers paying bribes. Passport offices followed closely, with a bribery rate of 57.45 percent.

Overall, 31.67 percent of citizens seeking government services in 2024 reported paying bribes, amounting to nearly one-third of all service recipients.

Men reported higher exposure to bribery than women. Among female respondents, 22.71 percent said they had paid bribes, compared with 38.62 percent among male respondents.

The survey shows that 47.12 percent of participants accessed government healthcare services. Of them, 72.69 percent expressed satisfaction with public health services.

Satisfaction levels were higher in education, with 81.56 percent satisfied with primary education and 78.20 percent with secondary education.

On public safety, 84.81 percent of respondents said they did not feel unsafe walking alone in or around their locality after dusk.

According to the BBS report, Noakhali recorded the highest bribery rate in 2024. In the district, 57.17 percent of citizens seeking public services reported paying bribes.

Cumilla followed with 53.47 percent, while Faridpur recorded 51.70 percent. In Bhola, the rate stood at 49 percent and in Sirajganj at 48.37 percent.

Chapainawabganj ranked lowest, with only 10.49 percent of service seekers reporting bribery.

It was followed by Magura at 13.98 percent, Lalmonirhat at 14.50 percent, Gazipur at 15.24 percent and Sylhet at 15.61 percent.

The survey shows bribery was most prevalent among upper-middle-income citizens seeking faster or assured services, at 33.60 percent. Among middle-income and low-income groups, the rate stood at 32.24 percent.