Legal notice seeks withdrawal of graft remarks on Asif Mahmud

A legal notice has been served on Akhtarul Islam, public relations officer and deputy director of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), demanding the withdrawal of his remarks that there was “initial evidence” of corruption allegations against National Citizen Party (NCP) spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan.

Supreme Court lawyer Muhammad Rafiqul Islam Jony, on behalf of Asif Mahmud, served the notice on Thursday, 10 September. The NCP confirmed the matter in a statement sent to the media on Friday.

According to the statement, Akhtarul Islam said at a press conference on September 2 that the ACC had found “initial evidence” of irregularities involving Asif Mahmud in transfers, appointments and promotions. Following the remarks, the allegations were widely circulated in the media and on social media.

Asif Mahmud claimed that the ACC official’s remarks, made without any investigation or specific evidence, triggered a widespread media trial against him.

He said the remarks created an impression among the public that the allegations had already been established, damaging his personal and political reputation.

Later, Akhtarul Islam sent a message to journalists in the ACC beat WhatsApp group, saying that his remarks had been made mistakenly and requesting them to omit the phrase “initial evidence” from their reports.

However, the statement made at the press conference was not formally withdrawn or corrected, allowing the media trial and negative public perception to continue.

The legal notice also pointed out factual inconsistencies in the allegations. Although it was claimed that the current responsibilities of 38 upazila youth development officers had been cancelled, the actual number was 112. The ministry implemented the decision as part of executing an order of the Administrative Appellate Tribunal.

The legal notice demanded that the ACC’s public relations officer unconditionally withdraw the remarks in the same manner they were published in the media within 15 days and refrain from making statements in the future without verified and evidence-based information.

Asif Mahmud warned that if the official failed to take the required steps within the stipulated time, legal action would be taken against him under Section 500 of the Penal Code and other applicable laws.