Transparency International Bangladesh calls for mandatory asset disclosure as prerequisite for new government pay scale

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has welcomed the cabinet’s approval of a new national pay scale for public servants, while simultaneously urging the government to mandate the annual disclosure of wealth statements as a prerequisite for receiving the pay hike.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman argued that salary increments should be exclusively reserved for officials who publicly declare their assets and those of their dependent family members. The organization contended that implementing this condition is essential to curbing corruption, ensuring institutional accountability, and providing harassment-free services to the public.

Iftekharuzzaman acknowledged that the government’s decision to implement the new pay structure in three phases is a logical response to the financial limitations of the state. He noted that aligning salaries with the rising cost of living is necessary to expect professional excellence and integrity from the civil service. However, he warned that applying the pay scale across the board without oversight could inadvertently escalate corruption, as those motivated by illicit gains will remain unaffected by the salary adjustment alone.

Referencing the 2015 eighth pay scale, the TIB executive director expressed concern that previous attempts to boost efficiency through salary hikes failed to mitigate bribery and systemic irregularities. He cautioned that if the new structure is implemented without mechanisms for transparency, the nation may witness a repeat of past failures where corruption levels increased despite higher government spending.

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TIB also highlighted the potential for inflationary pressure resulting from the salary increase, noting that it could further burden low-income citizens already struggling with the rising cost of daily commodities. To mitigate these risks, the organization stressed that the government must demonstrate foresight by linking financial benefits to strict accountability measures.

By making the publication of wealth statements a mandatory requirement, the government would be adopting a globally recognized method for controlling graft. Iftekharuzzaman concluded that without such a commitment, it will be impossible to break the cycle of corruption that continues to plague the public sector, which is funded entirely by taxpayer money.