Bangladesh lacks adequate transparency in public finance management: US

The United States has flagged Bangladesh for lacking adequate transparency in its management of public finances, including government revenue and expenditure.

In its “2025 Fiscal Transparency Report” released on Friday (September 19), the U.S. State Department stated that Bangladesh has failed to meet the minimum standards of fiscal transparency.

The U.S. State Department listed Bangladesh, along with Pakistan and the Maldives, among South Asian countries that did not meet the basic requirements for financial transparency. Of the 140 countries assessed globally, 71 met the minimum standards, while 69—including Bangladesh—fell short.

The report noted that although Bangladesh did not meet the established benchmarks, the country’s newly formed interim government has initiated several reforms aimed at improving transparency in the financial sector.

To address existing gaps, the report recommended that Bangladesh publish end-of-year financial reports within a reasonable timeframe, prepare budget documents aligned with internationally accepted standards, and establish an independent and well-resourced supreme audit institution.

Further recommendations include the need for comprehensive disclosure of executive branch expenditures, transparent accounting of revenue and expenditure flows, and unrestricted public access to the annual budget.

The report also urged timely publication of audit findings and greater transparency in the management of natural resource revenues.

The Fiscal Transparency Report is an annual assessment conducted by the U.S. Department of State to promote accountability and good governance by evaluating the openness of governments in managing public funds.