Asif's issue not politically motivated: ACC

The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) has denied any political motive behind its decision to investigate former interim government adviser and Jatiya Nagorik Party (NCP) spokesperson Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan, maintaining that the allegations against him were found to be "cognizable" after scrutiny.

ACC Secretary Md Saidur Rahman Khan made the assertion on Wednesday while responding to journalists' questions at the Commission headquarters.

"The Commission works according to the law. An investigation has been initiated against former adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan following the prescribed legal procedure," he maintained.

His remarks came hours after Asif, also the NCP spokesperson, held a press conference questioning the ACC investigation and alleged that the Commission was being used "politically" to harass him.

Asked whether the Commission had found any preliminary basis for the allegations before opening the investigation, Saidur Rahman explained that complaints received by the ACC are initially referred to a scrutiny committee.

"A complaint was received and subsequently scrutinised. Following the scrutiny process, there is invariably a comment, a recommendation and an opinion. The Commission decided to proceed with the investigation on the basis of that opinion," he explained.

He added that the Commission subsequently sought various documents as part of the investigation.
Responding to repeated questions about the "preliminary veracity" of the allegations, the ACC Secretary refrained from drawing any conclusion before completion of the investigation.

"It is not possible to make any definitive comment on the matter before the investigation is concluded," he observed.
Saidur Rahman also clarified a statement made by the Commission's Public Relations Officer (PRO) during the briefing on the day the investigation was initiated, describing it as merely a "slip of the tongue".

He stressed that any person aggrieved or affected by the Commission's action has the right to make a statement, while any citizen who considers himself aggrieved may also pursue legal remedies.

The ACC initiated the investigation on September 2 against four people, including Asif Mahmud, over alleged irregularities and corruption in the Ministry of Youth and Sports, particularly concerning recruitment, transfers and procurement.