We aren't the Most Corrupt Country (anymore)!

So, the newspapers are joyfully reporting that Bangladesh is NOT the most corrupt country in the world. Hooray! Bangladesh placed at 139 out of 180, which doesn't exactly make this place a paragon of forthright and honest government and some of Bangladesh's upward movement is also largely the result of other nations moving down the corruption list (Hey -way to to go American invasion of Afghanistan- it is significantly more corrupt now than ever...), but, for Bangladesh, 139 is still a big improvement. Here is a little article from the Daily Star (local newsaper) about it. Thas to be the best line in the article "It may be recalled that Bangladesh was earlier placed at the very bottom of the list for the five successive years from 2001-2005."
Yes, it may be recalled.
Bangladesh 139th among 180 countries in transparency index
Star Online Report
http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/latest_news.php?nid=20654
Bangladesh has shown a remarkable progress in abating corruption as it has been placed 139th among 180 countries in the Transparency International’s (TI) annual Corruption Perception Index (CPI) for 2009.
Bangladesh has moved eight steps up from last year’s 147th in the index with an increase of 0.3 point on a scale of 0-10, according to the report released in Dhaka on Tuesday at a press briefing.
The index provides international ranking of countries in terms of perceived degree of prevalence of political and administrative corruption.
Bangladesh scored 2.4 this year where it was 2.1 last year, said Transparency International Bangladesh trustee Professor Muzaffer Ahmad said at the press briefing at the Dhaka Reporter’s Unity.
He said Bangladesh, according to the Berlin-based organisation, is one of the eight countries that showed extraordinary improvement in corruption-free scenario.
Somalia ranked lowest in the index by scoring 1.1 and New Zealand is the highest scoring nation, which scored 9.4, Professor Muzaffer said.
It may be recalled that Bangladesh was earlier placed at the very bottom of the list for the five successive years from 2001-2005.
In 2006, Bangladesh was ranked in no 3, and 7th in 2007. With the score of 2.1.
M Hafizuddin Khan, chairman of Transparency International Bangladesh, and Dr Iftekharuzzaman, executive director, were present at the press briefing."