Play store
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is working independently and without any pressure, newly appointed Chairman Justice A K M Asaduzzaman said on Wednesday, pledging to make every effort to meet public expectations and restore the commission’s credibility.
“We are not under any pressure. We are working independently,” Asaduzzaman told reporters during an interaction at the ACC headquarters in Dhaka on the first working day of the new commission.
He said the commission would try to address any challenges that emerge in the course of its work, while keeping the expectations of the people at the centre of its activities.
“If any problem comes before us, we will try to resolve it. We have come here keeping people’s expectations in mind,” he said.
The chairman also sought public support for the new commission, saying he hoped it would be able to produce positive results in the days ahead.
“Pray for us so that we can work for the country according to people’s expectations, restore the image of the ACC and make every possible effort to make the country free from corruption. InshaAllah, we will bring good results in the days ahead,” he said.
New commission begins work
Asaduzzaman and the two newly appointed commissioners, Dr Jahangir Alam Khan and Dr Sazzad Hossain Bhuiyan, formally began their work at the commission on Wednesday.
They arrived at the ACC headquarters at around 9am and later attended a scheduled meeting with senior officials at 10am.
ACC Secretary Saidur Rahman, director generals and officials up to the deputy director level were present at the meeting, according to officials.
The meeting marked the beginning of the new commission’s activities following the appointment of its three members.
Asked about the commission’s future plans, Asaduzzaman adopted a cautious approach and indicated that more details would emerge as they continued their work.
“If you hear everything from us on the first day, what will we do for the rest of the days?” he told reporters.
He added that the commission would have a long working relationship with journalists.
Independence under scrutiny
The chairman’s assurance of independence comes at a time when the ACC faces considerable expectations from the public to strengthen its effectiveness and institutional credibility.
Over the years, questions have frequently been raised about the commission’s ability to act independently and take effective action against corruption, particularly in politically sensitive cases. Asaduzzaman’s statement therefore signals that the new commission intends to emphasise institutional independence as it begins its tenure.
The chairman, however, did not provide details of specific investigations, cases or measures that the commission plans to undertake.
Instead, he stressed the broader objective of responding to public expectations and improving the ACC’s image.
The commission’s performance in the coming months is likely to determine whether its stated commitment to independence translates into concrete action.
New leadership
The government appointed retired Supreme Court judge A K M Asaduzzaman as ACC chairman and Dr Jahangir Alam Khan and Dr Sazzad Hossain Bhuiyan as commissioners through a gazette notification issued on Monday.
Justice Asaduzzaman is a retired judge of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court. He retired from the Appellate Division on February 26, 2026, after serving for a long period as a judge of the High Court Division.
His appointment brings a senior judicial figure to the leadership of the country’s principal anti-corruption body.
The two commissioners will work with the chairman in directing the commission’s investigations, enforcement activities and other statutory functions.
For the new leadership, the immediate challenge will be to turn its stated commitment to independence into an effective anti-corruption drive while maintaining public confidence in the institution.
Asaduzzaman’s first-day message was therefore clear: the new commission wants to work independently, listen to public expectations and deliver results.
The extent to which it can translate that promise into action will be closely watched.