Shahe Alam alleges file approved without secretary's signature; Asif Mahmud challenges claim

State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam today (23 May) alleged that former adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain had approved files for a project during the interim government period without obtaining the secretary's signature – a claim later challenged by Asif.

Speaking at a press briefing at the Secretariat, Alam also stated that a seven-member probe committee, headed by the Director General of the Local Government Division, has been formed to investigate alleged corruption and irregularities from 2009 to 2026 in the division and its affiliated offices.

He said the committee has been instructed to submit its report within 60 working days, covering both the Awami League and interim government periods.

Later in the day, Asif challenged the state minister's claim in a live session on his verified Facebook page where he demanded that the minister disclose the specific file in question, saying the public has the right to know if any irregularity occurred.

He said that if the secretary is absent due to foreign travel or other reasons, senior officials such as an additional secretary are assigned responsibility based on hierarchy, and such approvals are made with ministerial or advisory consent, adding that no legal violation would occur in such cases.

Asif further said the allegation should be backed by specific evidence and urged the minister to make the relevant file public if any irregularity had truly taken place.