ACC probes ‘bribery’ claim against Asif
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has decided to investigate allegations of corruption and irregularities involving former interim government adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain in the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
The ACC has received allegations they took “more than Tk 40 million in bribes for against them for promotions and postings in preferred positions” for about 200 Upazila youth development officers and Upazila assistant youth development officers.
ACC Deputy Director Akhtarul Islam announced the decision at a press conference on Wednesday, saying a four-member team has been formed to investigate the allegations.
The allegations also involve former Youth and Sports Ministry Secretary Md Mahbub-ul-Alam, former Joint Secretary Sheikh Mohammad Zobayer Hossain and Deputy Secretary Md Masum Ahmed.
According to the complaint, Tk 76 lakh was allegedly taken in exchange for cancelling the existing responsibilities of 38 upazila youth development officers and issuing new posting orders.
The complaint further alleges that Tk 1.5 crore was taken in connection with the promotion of 150 assistant upazila youth development officers. An additional Tk 2 crore was allegedly collected from officials seeking postings at preferred locations following their promotions.
Several officials of the Department of Youth Development have also been named in the complaint in connection with the alleged irregularities.
The ACC inquiry team is being led by Deputy Director Md Zahid Kalam. Assistant Director Md Nasrullah Hossain and Deputy Assistant Directors Imran Akon and Roman Uddin are the other members of the team.
The ACC’s decision marks the beginning of an investigation; the allegations have not been established as facts.
Asif Mahmud is the first adviser from the interim government to face an ACC investigation over allegations of corruption.
Meanwhile, Asif Mahmud challenged the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to make public the evidence it claims to have found regarding alleged corruption in transfers and postings at the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
The ACC has reportedly said it found preliminary evidence of illegal financial transactions involving Asif Mahmud, Youth and Sports Ministry Secretary Md Mahbub-ul-Alam and two other officials over alleged transfer and posting irregularities.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday (September 2), Asif Mahmud called on the ACC to disclose the evidence before the public.
Asif Mahmud’s demand for the evidence to be made public comes as the ACC begins its formal probe into the alleged irregularities.
