By Anisur Bulbul
Although government services in the country are an integral part of civic life, most people face hardships while availing themselves of them. Corruption, discrimination, harassment, or obstacles to freedom of expressionโthis picture has emerged in the preliminary report of the recent โCitizen Perception Survey 2025โ conducted by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS).
The experience of about 85,000 people says that one in three has to face corruption while availing of government services. 31.67% of service seekers have had to pay bribes.
BRTA has emerged as the most corrupt institution, where more than 63% of people have been victims of corruption. Law enforcement agencies, passport offices, and land offices trail closely behind. Men have been victims of corruption more often, although women are not protected either.
The survey also reveals a clear picture of the sense of security in civic life.
It is seen that most people feel safe walking alone in their areas after dusk, especially people in rural areas, who are more confident about their safety than in cities. However, gender differences are clearโwhile men feel safer, women still have doubts.
Similarly, there are significant limitations on freedom of expression and political participation. Only 27% of citizens believe that they can freely express their opinions on government actions.
Only one in five believes in participating in or influencing the political process. This suggests that there is a lack of both trust and opportunity in exercising democratic rights.
However, not everything is negative. For example, most citizens are satisfied with the accessibility and affordability of the healthcare system. However, concerns persist regarding the calibre and conduct of healthcare professionals.
The education sector also shows a relatively promising pictureโaccess to primary and secondary education is very high, and the cost is within the reach of most people. Despite some dissatisfaction with quality of education, the overall picture remains positive.
There is also some room for optimism in the area of โโlegal aid. A large proportion of those who have faced disputes or complications in the past two years have somehow managed to access the justice system. Most of them achieved this through informal methods.
Among all these issues, the aspect that has received special importance is the experience of discrimination and harassment. One in five citizens has been a victim of discrimination or harassment. This rate is slightly higher in cities. Socio-economic class and gender-based discrimination have emerged as the primary reasons for this issue. Families, public transport, and the workplace have experienced the most discrimination.
The results of this survey present a two-sided reality before us: on the one hand, many achievements in the government service system, ease of access, and economic capacity; on the other hand, serious challenges such as corruption, obstacles to expression, and social inequality. In the interest of building a good-governance society, it is now necessary for policymakers to play a responsible role, ensure transparency, and build a sustainable framework of accountability to the people. Only then will the Bangladesh of the future be more humane and more equal in opportunities.
Anisur Bulbul: Writer and media worker
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