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Former adviser to the Interim Government Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan has accused the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of defaming him after the anti-graft agency launched an inquiry into alleged irregularities and corruption in recruitment, transfers and procurement at the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
Asif claimed that his social reputation had suffered irreparable damage after an ACC spokesperson said at a press conference that the allegations of corruption had received “initial verification” even before the formal inquiry had begun.
He questioned whether the commission would apologise or express regret for the damage to his reputation.
Asif expressed his dissatisfaction in a post on his verified Facebook page on Wednesday evening.
In the post, he said ACC spokesperson Aktarul Islam had told a press conference that the allegations of corruption had received “initial verification” before any formal inquiry had been conducted.
The statement was subsequently widely reported by the media, creating an impression that the allegations against him had already been proven even before the inquiry began, Asif said.
He added that the ACC spokesperson later backtracked on the controversial remark and requested journalists not to use the term “initial verification”.
Asif, however, questioned whether the ACC would publicly apologise or express regret for damaging his reputation by making such a statement before the inquiry had even started.
Earlier, the ACC announced the formation of a four-member special inquiry team to investigate corruption allegations against four people, including Asif Mahmud.
The team is headed by ACC Deputy Director Md Zahid Kalam. Other officials named in the inquiry are Youth and Sports Ministry Secretary Md Mahbub-ul-Alam, Joint Secretary Sheikh Mohammad Zobaid Hossain and Deputy Secretary Md Masum Ahmed.
The original complaint submitted to the ACC alleged that, while serving as adviser to the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Asif Mahmud was involved in financial irregularities in administrative transfers, recruitment and promotions.
The complaint also levelled allegations against several senior ministry officials and alleged members of a syndicate, accusing them of involvement in irregularities in procurement and tender processes under the Department of Youth Development, as well as allegedly taking crores of taka in exchange for the posting and promotion of youth development officers at the upazila level.
The allegations are currently under inquiry and have not been established by the ACC.