Bangladesh website Ghush.site logs more than 3,800 alleged bribe reports

Ghush.site, a new platform for anonymously reporting alleged bribe demands for government services, has received 3,822 reports, amounting to $5.4 million in bribes, as of Aug. 26, according to figures displayed on the website.

Launched Aug. 21 by Saif Kabeer and Shahed Sharif, Ghush.site allows users to identify a government office, service, location, alleged bribe amount, and outcome without creating an account.

Ghush is a Bengali word that translates to bribery.

“No names or identifying details will be tracked or saved. It is just a report on the website. Because there is no registration, there is absolutely no risk to the user. When people realize there is no risk of exposure, it gives them the confidence to report; and that itself makes a big difference,” said Sharif in an interview with News24.

Submissions are moderated before publication, including the removal of personal information. The site does not allow reports to identify individual officials by name, designation, or phone number.

The founders emphasize that submissions are not independently verified and do not constitute evidence against government employees. They say the platform is intended to highlight broader patterns in alleged bribery across public services rather than replace the Anti-Corruption Commission.

Bangladesh is ranked as the 13th most corrupt country in the world, according to Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI).