He particularly recommended strengthening the regulatory regime, addressing transparency in government conduct of public affairs, and improving business laws.

"Bangladesh should benchmark its performance in recent years vis-a-vis the MCA methodology and track its progress in the near future," David Luna, Director for Anti-Corruption and Governance Initiatives, US State Department, said during an online chat with a group of journalists in Dhaka.

He said assuming strong political will in the government to work through these issues, and improving MCA scores in weak areas, Bangladesh should be in a more competitive position to qualify for the MCA funds.

In reply to a question about the Anti-corruption Commission (ACC) in Bangladesh to combat the menace, he said the ACC needs to be truly independent to be most effective. "It too must have the resources to be able to do its job and the necessary legal authority to prosecute corrupt officials."

Quoting Bangladesh newspaper reports, Luna said he understood that the absence of rules and organogram was cited as the main reason for its slow start.

"To truly succeed, however, the ACC must have the enforcement 'teeth', independence, and trust of the people that it can be impartial," he said, adding, "Checks and balances are perhaps the most effective approach to tackling the vested interests in the country."

In reply to another question, he said UNCAC has become an important tool and focal point for the international community in the collective fight against corruption.

"I am not sure why Bangladesh has not signed the UNCAC," the US official said and urged the Bangladesh government to take prompt action to join the international community's commitment on this important instrument.

In reply to a question, Luna said Bangladesh government will have to take concrete action to implement key reforms and empower those who investigate corruption to prosecute at all levels of society in implementing the national integrity strategy.

He said in many places around the world people are fed-up with corruption and are holding government officials accountable.

Asked about the urgency of separation of the judiciary from other branches for good governance and making the government accountable, Luna said checks and balances are critical to ensure the integrity of the overall system. "An independent judiciary helps safeguard Bangladesh' public trust that no one is above the law."

Asked about effective combat of corruption, the US official said fighting corruption entails a comprehensive approach, including a combination of prevention, detection, and sanctions.

A key area of prevention includes developing ethics, laws and requirements such as the practice in some countries to file publicly financial disclosure reports that detail investments, gifts from outside sources, and information and other incomes and assets. Such transparency reports help employees to avoid conflicts of interest and to preserve the integrity of public office.

To a question, Luna said the US and other G8 countries have taken a strong position in the fight against 'kleptocracy', including aggressively denying safe haven to corrupt officials, to those who corrupt them, their illicitly-acquired assets - and, prosecuting those engaged in bribery, including in international business transactions.

Asked about US role in helping Bangladesh establish good governance, Luna said the State Department's role relates to fighting corruption internationally that includes cooperation to unite governments to work cooperatively on these issues, help them meet or exceed those commitments, mobilise popular will and support civil society.