Asif terms ACC probe media trial

National Citizen Party (NCP) spokesperson and former adviser to the interim government Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan has described an Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) inquiry into alleged irregularities in postings and transfers at the Ministry of Youth and Sports as “political harassment” and a “media trial”.

Speaking at a press conference at the National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam Auditorium of the National Press Club on Wednesday, he rejected the allegations and questioned the factual basis of the inquiry.

“The allegations raised against me are false, and the objective of this inquiry is not to uncover corruption but to engage in political harassment and a ‘media trial’,” he said.

He alleged that the ACC was reverting to practices used to suppress political opponents under the previous regime.

“We believe this inquiry is not a genuine investigation; rather, it is a means to harass political opponents. They are reverting to the same processes used during the fascist regime�"suppressing and oppressing political opponents, using intimidation to keep them in fear, and silencing their voices,” he maintained.

Asif Mahmud argued that the relevant chronology itself undermined the allegations against him.

“If an inquiry is to be conducted regarding this specific issue, the ACC should investigate the current government, not me. I have demonstrated the facts with concrete documentation. This specific incident occurred during the tenure of the BNP government. I resigned more than two months before the BNP government even assumed power,” he remarked.

“I submitted my resignation letter on December 10, 2025, and it was accepted on December 11, 2025,” he added.

He also criticised the ACC’s recent institutional changes, alleging that reforms introduced during the interim government had subsequently been reversed.