Allegations against Asif ‘not fabricated’, ACC will send letters abroad if needed

On Tuesday, while answering journalists' questions at the ACC's head office in Segunbagicha in the capital, Commission Secretary Saidur Rahman Khan said this.

He said the next course of action has been started based on information found in the inquiry. The matter is still at the inquiry and investigation stage. The next decision will be taken based on information and evidence found in the investigation. The ACC has no scope to make decisions based on personal preference or fabrication.

Regarding allegations of money laundering abroad, the ACC secretary said that as part of the legal process, letters will be sent to the relevant countries under mutual legal assistance if needed. If the allegations are verified and found to have substance, next measures will be taken according to law.

Meanwhile, important documents related to recruitment, promotion and transfer at the Ministry of Youth and Sports during Asif Mahmud's tenure have reached the ACC. On September 3, the Commission sent a letter to the ministry seeking these documents. Later, the ministry supplied the relevant papers to the ACC.

Earlier, on September 2, the ACC began an inquiry against four people, including Asif Mahmud, over allegations of irregularities and corruption in various areas including recruitment, transfer and procurement at the Ministry of Youth and Sports. A special team was formed for this under the leadership of Deputy Director Md. Zahid Kalam.

Later, the ACC decided to conduct separate inquiries against Asif Mahmud over several other matters, including allegations of bribery, recruitment and posting trade in Dhaka North and South City Corporations, money transactions in the appointment of deputy commissioners, commissions in city corporation tenders, and laundering of huge amounts of money abroad. It has been decided to attach these allegations to the previous inquiry and investigate.

The allegations mention laundering of about Tk 11,000 crore to five countries. Among them, there are allegations of laundering about Tk 4,500 crore to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, Tk 3,000 crore to Singapore, Tk 2,000 crore to Australia and Tk 1,500 crore to Switzerland. There are also allegations of buying land in Portugal with corruption money.

In addition, allegations of recruitment, posting and tender control in various city corporations, commissions in local government projects, embezzlement of funds by increasing expenditure in rural infrastructure and bridge construction projects, irregularities in Dhaka WASA projects and the Sheikh Russell Mini Stadium project are also under inquiry.

However, Asif Mahmud has denied these allegations regarding the ACC inquiry. At a press conference on Sunday, he questioned the figures in the allegations and said that at different times, allegations of corruption involving different amounts have been raised against him. He also remarked that since the amount in the allegations has changed, the relevant persons should clarify their position.

Expressing fear that the ACC could be used for political purposes, Asif Mahmud further said that such allegations existed in the past and the same situation could arise in the future. At the same time, he also raised the question whether adequate action is being taken against corruption during the Awami League era.

The ACC has said that after the inquiry and investigation are completed, the report will be presented to the Commission. Then, based on the information and evidence obtained, the next decision will be taken according to law.