US Urges Bangladesh to Increase Fiscal Transparency and Open Public Procurement Data

The United States has recommended that Bangladesh make information on government procurement contracts publicly accessible and strengthen transparency in public financial management by adopting internationally recognized budget standards and ensuring the independence of the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).

The observations were outlined in the "2026 Fiscal Transparency Report: Bangladesh," released by the US Department of State on August 11.

According to the report, Bangladesh's interim government has made notable progress in fiscal transparency by publishing year-end financial statements within the prescribed timeframe. It also acknowledged that the government has continued implementing budget-related recommendations from previous administrations while launching several reforms aimed at improving transparency in public finances.

The report noted that the interim government has published both its executive budget proposal and the approved national budget online. Although the budget documents do not fully comply with internationally recognized standards, the information they contain was considered broadly reliable. It also recognized that information on the government's debt obligations was publicly available and that the budget provides a reasonably comprehensive overview of planned revenues and expenditures, including income generated from natural resources.

However, the report identified several shortcomings. It said the budget does not provide separate and detailed accounts of the operating expenditures of executive government offices. It also noted that the budget documents do not present a fully comprehensive picture of the government's total revenues and expenditures.

The US Department of State also expressed concerns about the independence of Bangladesh's supreme audit institution. According to the report, the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General has not yet achieved the level of institutional independence required under international standards and continues to face limitations in effectively reviewing government accounts.

The report further observed that while Bangladesh has implemented the Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) system, there remains significant scope to improve public access to procurement data and related information.

To further strengthen fiscal transparency, the United States recommended that Bangladesh:

• Publicly disclose key information on contracts and licenses related to natural resource extraction.
• Make government procurement contract information openly accessible.
• Ensure closer alignment between the approved budget and actual government revenues and expenditures.
• Strengthen the independence of the Comptroller and Auditor General's Office in accordance with international standards and provide it with adequate resources.
• Ensure the CAG has timely and direct access to full-year budget implementation data for audit purposes.
• Publish audit reports promptly, including key audit findings, recommendations, and relevant explanations.

The report concluded that implementing these measures would further enhance transparency, accountability, and public confidence in Bangladesh's public financial management system.