Bangladesh Health Minister Pledges Crackdown on Systemic Corruption to Restore Public Services

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Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Shakhawat Hossain has declared that the government is committed to eradicating corruption and establishing transparency within the nation’s beleaguered health sector. Speaking at a workshop hosted by Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) in Dhaka on Sunday, the minister acknowledged that previous governance failures had left the healthcare system mired in corruption, depriving citizens of essential services and squandering public resources.

The event marked the introduction of a new TIB initiative titled “Strengthening Integrity and Accountability in Sexual and Reproductive Health Systems in Bangladesh.” The minister pledged full government support for the project, noting that it aligns with Prime Minister-led efforts to restore accountability across all administrative tiers. He emphasized that the government is prepared to provide comprehensive cooperation to ensure the success of this initiative, which aims to improve the quality and transparency of reproductive health services.

TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman underscored that the health sector remains a primary focus for the organization’s research and advocacy efforts. He argued that the effectiveness of the current national health budget depends entirely on the government’s ability to ensure that funds are utilized without corruption or conflicts of interest. He urged all stakeholders to collaborate closely to ensure the project delivers tangible improvements in service quality and systemic integrity.

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The initiative, supported by the Swedish government and Transparency International Global Health, is being implemented across four countries, including Zambia, Ecuador, Tunisia, and Bangladesh. Under the project, TIB will conduct pilot studies in 16 union-level health and family planning centers across Laxmipur and Nilphamari districts. By utilizing community facilitators to collect real-time data, the program aims to identify critical governance gaps and develop evidence-based solutions to enhance service delivery.

Government officials, including Syeda Noushin Parnini, Additional Secretary of the Health Education and Family Welfare Division, and Jinnat Rehana, Director General of the Directorate General of Family Planning, also attended the workshop. They reiterated the government’s readiness to assist in the project’s implementation, particularly in its efforts to improve maternal and child healthcare outcomes at the grassroots level.