ACC to examine Asif Mahmud’s remarks on commission

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) will examine remarks made by National Citizen Party (NCP) spokesperson and former interim government adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan questioning the commission’s impartiality, ACC Secretary Saidur Rahman Khan said today (9 September).

He made the remarks in response to journalists’ questions at a press conference at the ACC headquarters in Dhaka’s Segunbagicha.

Asif had earlier accused the ACC of operating under political influence and questioned the impartiality of its investigations.

Saidur said the commission conducts inquiries and investigations in accordance with the law and will examine Asif’s remarks if he has made such allegations.

“When we receive a complaint, we scrutinise it and then conduct an inquiry and investigation before taking legal action. Someone may become aggrieved by this and make statements. We are not yet aware of his remarks. If he has made such comments, we will examine them. We will do whatever is required from the ACC’s side,” he said.

Saidur also clarified an earlier ACC statement that it had found “preliminary evidence of corruption” against Asif Mahmud, describing the wording as a “slip of the tongue”.

He said the commission’s inquiry into the allegations was proceeding strictly in line with the procedure prescribed by law.

The ACC is investigating allegations of corruption against Asif relating to appointments, transfers, promotions and government procurement during his tenure at the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

The commission has already sent letters to the ministry seeking relevant documents and information.

Earlier today, Asif told a press conference at the National Press Club that the ACC was being operated in a political manner and that its impartiality was under question.

He also alleged that the accusations against him were being used to humiliate him and damage his reputation through what he described as a “media trial”.