18,000 complaints in 16 days on ghush.site – what are they mostly about?

On the platform 'ghush.site', complaints about demands for large bribes outnumber those for small amounts. In the past 16 days, the site has received 18,429 complaints. Of these, 35 percent of the complainants reported bribe demands ranging from Tk 10,000 to a maximum of Tk 10 crore. The highest number of complaints came from the Dhaka division. By department, the Land Office and Passport Office top the list of complaints.

The complaints lodged on 'ghush.site' reflect a wide range of experiences citizens face while seeking government services. Personal experiences of paying bribes are now being submitted on this digital platform.

An analysis of data from 'ghush.site', launched on 21 August, shows that in 35 percent of cases, while seeking various government and private services, large bribes—ranging from Tk 10,000 to Tk 10 crore—were demanded. In 31 percent of complaints, the demanded bribe was between Tk 1,001 and Tk 5,000; in 13 percent, it was between Tk 5,000 and Tk 10,000. According to information provided by complainants, in 12,944 cases (70 percent), the demanded bribe was actually paid. Refusal to pay the bribe was reported by 4,330 individuals (23 percent). Six percent of complaints are still pending resolution.

According to the site's data, at least 18,429 complaints were published in the 16 days since its launch. The total amount of bribes demanded in these complaints is approximately Tk 525 crore 61 lakh. On average, each complaint involved a bribe demand of Tk 2,85,000, according to the complainants' data. However, these figures should not be taken as the true extent of bribery in the country, as the site has not claimed that the complaints have been independently verified.

In terms of complaint numbers, Dhaka division is far ahead, with 7,212 complaints involving bribe demands worth Tk 283 crore 14 lakh. Chattogram has 3,925 complaints worth Tk 99 crore 22 lakh; Rajshahi, 1,583 complaints worth Tk 22 crore 54 lakh; Khulna, 1,448 complaints worth Tk 24 crore 2 lakh; and Rangpur, 1,299 complaints worth Tk 25 crore 11 lakh. Mymensingh has 1,171 complaints, Barishal 966, and Sylhet 825 complaints.

By department, the highest number—5,905 complaints—came under the category "other government services," with bribe demands amounting to Tk 228 crore 94 lakh. The Land Office attracted 3,975 complaints involving Tk 91 crore 8 lakh; the Passport Office, 2,149 complaints worth Tk 19 crore 98 lakh; and the BRTA, 1,336 complaints worth Tk 21 crore 25 lakh.

Beyond the monetary figures, the complaints also reveal the dominance of middlemen (dalals) and various kinds of harassment faced in obtaining government services. For example, a person from Singair, Manikganj, complained that a deed writer demanded Tk 20,000 to register land purchased in his wife's name. He was told that this money had to be given to "big sir," otherwise the registration would not be done—even though the official fee for registration is only Tk 1,200.

According to experts, many people may be more willing to file complaints online anonymously because they find the formal complaint process complicated or fear revealing their identity. However, the success of such an initiative cannot be judged by the number of complaints alone. The major challenge is to verify the complaints, uncover the true picture of corruption, provide information to the relevant authorities, and create opportunities for effective action.

Professor Dr. Sazzad Siddiqui, Chairman of the Department of Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Dhaka, said that the prevalence of bribery indicates a lack of justice, lawlessness, and weak governance in society. While such citizen-led initiatives are commendable, they cannot succeed without effective government action. Along with preventing misuse through fake complaints, it is urgent to activate the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and ensure administrative accountability.

The creators of 'ghush.site' were also motivated by their own experiences. Founder Shahed Sharif Ahmed said that while trying to withdraw his mother's pension after her death, he faced demands for bribes. He also had a similar experience while making his passport. These personal experiences inspired him to take the initiative to collect citizens' bribe experiences in one place.