Asif calls ACC graft allegations against him a 'circus'

Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan, spokesperson of the National Citizen Party (NCP) and former adviser to the Ministry of Youth and Sports in the interim government, today (9 September) dismissed corruption allegations levelled against him by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) as "baseless and false," calling the commission's probe a "circus."

Addressing a press conference at the Jatiya Press Club, Asif said the allegations stemmed from promotions and transfers carried out under the BNP government, making it illogical for him to be held responsible.

He said the ACC initially claimed to have found "primary truth" in the allegations but later retracted the statement.

Although NCP asked the commission to hold another briefing to clarify its position, no further briefing was held, he added.

"We are preparing for a legal process. That is the direction we are heading in," Asif said.

He said the first allegation accused him of embezzling Tk76 lakh by having the acting charge of 38 upazila youth development officers cancelled and reassigned overnight, allegedly collecting Tk2 lakh from each of the officers who benefited.

The second allegation claims he took Tk1 lakh each from 150 assistant upazila youth development officers for promotion, plus Tk30,000 each for preferred postings, amounting to Tk2 crore in embezzlement.

Asif said this complaint was filed with the ACC on 26 April 2026, while the postings in question were made on 11 May 2026, meaning the allegation predated the very decision it accuses him of.

He noted that he resigned from his interim government post on 10 December 2025, and the BNP government took office on 17 February 2026, roughly three months before the postings were made. "There is no basis for raising corruption allegations against me in this context."

On the first allegation, Asif said the complaint referred to 38 officers, but the acting charge of 112 upazila youth development officers was actually cancelled. These officers were irregularly given acting charge on 25 November 2021, and were relieved of that responsibility following a tribunal verdict delivered on 9 December 2025.

He explained that officers placed on acting charge are not supposed to serve beyond six months before regular appointees take over, but prolonged acting appointments prompted deprived officials to file writ petitions.

 The petitioners won the case in 2023, and the 2025 tribunal verdict was issued on that basis, with the ministry subsequently implementing it, he said.

Asif said such verdicts are implemented at the secretary level, and neither the verdict copy nor the implementation decision originated from him but from the ministry secretary. "Since the entire matter followed a court verdict, the ACC can investigate the court if it wishes."

Asif alleged that the ACC's investigation was not targeting any wrongdoing but represented an old tactic to malign a political opponent.

"Even a circus should have limits," he said, reiterating that all allegations against him were baseless and false.