National Citizen Party (NCP) spokesperson Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan has issued a strict 24-hour ultimatum to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), demanding a formal apology and the immediate withdrawal of its statement claiming “initial evidence” of graft against him.
Speaking at an emergency press conference at the NCP’s temporary office in Bangla Motor on Wednesday night, Asif described the entire process as politically motivated and accused the agency of being used as a “political tool.”
Asif warned that if the commission fails to retract its spokesperson’s statement and take responsibility for having the reports withdrawn from the media, he will serve a legal notice and file a defamation lawsuit under existing laws.
To back his claims, Asif announced that he would subsequently publish all relevant documents, including official court orders and the Bangladesh Public Service Commission (PSC) recommendation list.
Standard administrative processes
The ACC’s allegations focus on two main issues – Tk76 lakh corruption regarding the cancellation of current-charge postings of 38 upazila youth development officers, and Tk2 crore corruption for the promotion of around 150 officials.
Asif maintained that both decisions were standard administrative processes implemented in line with a court verdict and recommendations of the PSC. He emphasized that he had no personal or direct involvement in these decisions, noting that they are resolved at the secretary level and do not bear his signature.
Detailing the Tk76 lakh issue, Asif explained that in 2021, 112 tenth-grade Assistant Upazila Youth Development Officers were given current charge of ninth-grade Upazila Youth Development Officers without formal promotion.
In 2025, a court declared that current-charge order illegal. To implement the court’s judgement, the current charges of the 38 officers still holding those positions were cancelled, and they were reverted to their original posts.
Regarding the promotions, Asif stated that standard procedures – including the implementation of the court’s verdict, current charge cancellation, creation of vacant posts, and subsequent PSC recommendations – were strictly followed.
The PSC’s opinion was sought to fill 182 vacant positions, including those 38 posts, and the first 182 candidates recommended by the PSC were promoted.
Inconsistencies and premature claims
Asif pointed out major inconsistencies in the ACC’s timeline, noting that when reports of the inquiry first emerged on Wednesday morning, the specific allegations were unclear to him.
It was only after the ACC provided a document during its afternoon press conference that he realised there was “no match at all, from start to finish” between the morning media reports and the ACC’s actual document.
The NCP spokesperson strongly challenged the ACC spokesperson’s claim of finding “primary truth” within hours of launching the inquiry. “I fail to understand how an inquiry that started in the morning could produce proof by the afternoon,” he questioned.
He further claimed that an ACC official later requested journalists on the ACC beat’s WhatsApp group not to disseminate the spokesperson’s statement. However, the statement was not officially withdrawn as several media outlets had already published it.
Mocking the commission’s timeline, Asif remarked that an investigating agency cannot “just start an investigation today, declare its truth today, and then withdraw its statement by evening.”
While affirming his duty as a citizen to co-operate with any lawful investigation to build a corruption-free, accountable state, Asif urged the ACC to act responsibly.
He added that the investigating agency must verify all administrative records, court judgements, seniority lists, and PSC recommendations before making premature claims, adding that he remains fully ready to assist the authorities with all necessary documentation.
