The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has launched an investigation into allegations of irregularities in recruitment, transfers, promotions and procurement at the Ministry of Youth and Sports against interim government adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan.
ACC Deputy Director Md Aktarul Islam confirmed the matter on Wednesday.
The three other individuals are also under investigation. They are Youth and Sports Ministry Secretary Mahbub-ul-Alam, Joint Secretary Sheikh Mohammad Zobayed Hossain and Deputy Secretary Masum Ahmed.
A four-member investigation team has been formed to conduct the inquiry. The team, led by ACC Deputy Director Md Zahid Kalam, has been assigned responsibility for the investigation.
After the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government in August 2024, an interim government led by Muhammad Yunus was formed, with three student leaders joining the administration as advisers. Later, various allegations of corruption against these former student leaders were reported in the media.
According to the complaint submitted to the anti-corruption body, Asif Mahmud, the National Citizen Party spokesperson, was involved in corruption in transfers, recruitment and promotions.
The complaint alleges that Tk76 lakh was taken in exchange for cancelling the current-charge appointments of 38 upazila youth development officers and arranging their postings.
Tk1.5 crore was taken for the promotion of 150 assistant upazila youth development officers. Another Tk2 crore was allegedly collected for arranging preferred postings after the promotions, it further alleged.
The complaint also named several youth development officials, including Md Golam Mostofa, Mamun, Zahid, Amir (Dhaka), Anis, Zahid, Ibrahim (Bogura), Julhas (Barishal), Nakimuddin, Ali Hossain, Abu Saeed (Pabna), Qurban Ali (Dhamrai, Dhaka), and Ali Hossain (Narsingdi).
A syndicate involving these officials carried out corruption in tenders, procurement and other activities of the Department of Youth Development, it alleged, adding that they used money obtained through corruption to maintain luxurious lifestyles.
Attempts were made to contact Asif Mahmud through his WhatsApp number for comments, but he could not be reached.
However, he later made a Facebook post questioning ACC spokesperson Md Aktarul Islam and accusing him of defamation. He asked whether the anti-corruption watchdog would apologise.
An NCP leader also posted screenshots of a WhatsApp group conversation in which Aktarul reportedly sent a message to journalists saying he had mistakenly mentioned that preliminary evidence had been found and requested that the statement not be included in reports.
Responding to the issue, Asif Mahmud wrote, “Apparently, they found evidence even before starting the investigation. Asif Mahmud was defamed in the news about finding evidence and truth.”
