More than three months after Bangladesh’s top anti-corruption watchdog was left without leadership, steps toward institutional renewal have finally begun, although critics say the process has been slow.
On June 15, the government formed a five-member Search Committee to recommend candidates for the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) chairman and commissioners, a long-demanded move by civil society and anti-graft activists. Justice Md Rezaul Haque of the Appellate Division heads the committee. Other members include Justice Raziq Al Jalil and Justice Farah Mahbub of the High Court Division, Comptroller and Auditor General Nurul Islam, PSC Chairman Professor Dr Mobasher Monem, and former Cabinet Secretary Mahbub Hossain.
The move followed weeks of deadlock. The Cabinet Division had sought nominations of two Supreme Court judges, as required under the ACC Act 2004. The Chief Justice’s concurrence on 14 June resolved the procedural impasse that had stalled the process for legal and administrative reasons.
Following the fall of the Awami League government, the interim administration introduced an ACC reform ordinance based on recommendations from a reform commission. However, Parliament did not approve the ordinance, prompting the government to appoint a new ACC commission under the existing law as an interim measure until a new ACC Act is enacted.
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said, “This is an interim arrangement. A stronger commission will be formed once a new ACC law is passed by Parliament.”
The ACC’s current situation stems from political upheaval after 5 August last year. Then ACC Chairman Muhammad Moinuddin Abdullah resigned on 29 October 2024, followed by Commissioners Md Asia Khatun and Md Zahurul Haque. An interim arrangement was later formed in December 2024, appointing former Senior Secretary Dr Mohammad Abdul Momen as Chairman, with Mian Muhammad Ali Akbar Azizi and Hafiz Ahsan Farid as Commissioners.
That arrangement was temporary. On 23 December 2025, an ordinance amending the ACC Act replaced the "Search Committee" with a "Selection and Review Committee". It was later placed before Parliament after the BNP government took office on 3 March but lapsed on 11 April without approval, restoring the ACC Act 2004.
On 3 March, Chairman Dr Momen and the two Commissioners resigned, leaving the commission vacant. Since then, for over three months, the anti-corruption body has remained effectively paralysed.
After about three and a half months, the BNP government formed the search committee. Salahuddin Ahmed cited procedural delays, saying, "The government had written that a search committee and an anti-corruption commission would be formed. But we did not receive cooperation. It was only signed yesterday," referring to the Chief Justice's nomination on 14 June.
Chief Justice Zubair Rahman Chowdhury had been on medical leave in Thailand from 31 May to 5 June and required time to recover before returning to office.
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has cautiously welcomed the development while criticising the delay. Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said, "It took more than three months to form the ACC commission.
The government will have to take responsibility for this. Such a delay was not expected from the government which claims to be anti-corruption." He stressed integrity in appointments, saying that individuals with proven records of integrity, efficiency and a strong stance against corruption should be appointed. He added that only those who would apply the law equally and remain free from political or other pressure should be given responsibility as chairman and commissioners.
He also said that although the standard is demanding given the ACC's history, it is unavoidable in the current context. The formation of the search committee marks only the first step. Scrutiny of candidates, forwarding of names to the President and eventual swearing-in of a new commission still remain. Each day without a functional commission means stalled files, suspended enforcement and growing space for evasion of accountability.
The incoming commission is expected to inherit a backlog of thousands of complaints, a weakened investigative system and a public closely watching whether anti-corruption rhetoric translates into action. The search committee's mandate now requires both speed and rigour.
