According to Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2020, Bangladesh is second-worst in curbing corruption among the eight South Asian countries, with Afghanistan being the worst.

The rank counting from the bottom amid 180 countries is 12th in 2020, two steps lower than the previous year.

Bangladesh's score is still very worrying as the country has scored 26 out of 100 whereas the average score of CPI 2020 is 43.

The score remains the same as 2019 and 2018.

TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said with its overall performance, Bangladesh's position is "disappointing" in the index than the previous year.

One reason behind Bangladesh's disappointing performance is failure to transform high profile anti-corruption pledges into reality, he said.

With a score of 88 out of 100, Denmark and New Zealand topped the global CPI 2020, doing best in curbing corruption.

On the other hand, African countries South Sudan and Somalia both scored 12 and ranked first from the bottom in the index, doing worst in curbing corruption.

CPI 2020 is prepared based on corruption perceptions in 180 countries.