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Former interim government adviser and National Citizen Party (NCP) spokesperson Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain has filed a writ petition with the High Court challenging the legality of press briefings by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in which it said there was “preliminary evidence” of corruption allegations against him.
The petition also seeks a direction restraining the ACC from holding press briefings on matters under inquiry or investigation in a manner that could be defamatory or misleading, according to the petition.
Asif’s lawyer Advocate Zahirul Islam Musa filed the writ at the relevant High Court section on Monday.
The petition seeks a declaration that the ACC’s press briefings on September 2 and 13 were unlawful and beyond its legal authority. It also seeks a direction preventing the commission from holding press briefings on matters under investigation or pending before a court, as well as an order requiring the ACC to issue formal retraction notices with the same prominence for statements it has already made.
The writ, filed under Article 102 of the Constitution, names the ACC chairman, its deputy director (public relations) and assistant director (public relations) as respondents. The petition number is 13885/2026.
According to the petition, an ACC deputy director said at a press briefing at the commission’s headquarters on September 2 that “preliminary evidence” had been found regarding allegations of trading in transfers, appointments and promotions involving Asif Mahmud and others, and that an inquiry had been initiated.
Asif argues that the Anti-Corruption Commission Act does not empower the commission to declare at the initial stage of an inquiry that there is “preliminary evidence” of an allegation. He says such a statement could create a premature impression about the outcome of the inquiry.
The petition further says that on September 9, the ACC secretary described the earlier statement as a “slip of the tongue” or an inadvertent error in response to questions from journalists. The concerned official also reportedly told journalists in a WhatsApp group that the statement had been inadvertent.
However, the petition claims that the ACC did not issue any formal notice withdrawing the statement.
Asif says he subsequently sent a legal notice on September 10, but the ACC did not take it into account and its assistant director held another press briefing on September 13. The briefing reportedly mentioned allegations involving the appointment of an administrator to Dhaka North City Corporation, posting of deputy commissioners, WASA, the Local Government Engineering Department, tenders for various development projects and alleged money laundering.
Asif has described the allegations as baseless and untrue.
The petition says the cancellation of additional responsibilities at the Ministry of Youth and Sports was carried out through a ministry order following a judgment of the Administrative Appellate Tribunal.
It further says the promotion of 150 assistant youth development officers took effect on May 11, 2026, nearly five months after Asif resigned from the interim government. Therefore, the petition argues, his involvement in those promotions was legally and factually impossible.
The petition also alleges that the ACC briefings were intended to damage Asif’s political and social standing after he announced his candidacy for mayor of the upcoming Dhaka North City Corporation election. It describes the briefings as a form of “media trial”.
It further argues that such actions violate the fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 31 of the Constitution as well as the Right to Information Policy, 2011.
The ACC, however, has said its inquiry into allegations against Asif is not targeted and that it is dealing with pending complaints in accordance with the law. ACC Secretary Saidur Rahman Khan has also said that no definitive conclusion can be drawn before the investigation is completed.