Staff Reporter:
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has sought information and documents from the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) over allegations of money laundering and acquisition of assets at home and abroad by former interim government adviser and National Citizen Party (NCP) spokesperson Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain and and his wife.
An ACC letter signed by its Deputy Director and inquiry officer Md Zahed Kalam sought details of bank accounts and assets held by Asif Mahmud and his wife.
An ACC senior official confirmed the matter on Thursday (17 September).
The BFIU has been asked to provide details of all accounts held by the couple with banks and non-bank financial institutions in Bangladesh, including active, dormant and closed accounts.
The requested information also includes details of debit and credit cards, lockers, bonds, savings certificates, fixed deposits, DPS accounts and loans.
The ACC has also sought information on alleged land purchases, investments and bank accounts in Portugal, Australia, Dubai, Singapore and Switzerland, as well as records relating to alleged money laundering, formation of shell companies and communications with relevant foreign agencies.
The letter referred to allegations against Asif Mahmud of acquiring illegal wealth while serving in the interim government, laundering money abroad, obtaining foreign citizenship and establishing shell companies overseas.
The ACC launched an inquiry on 2 September into allegations of irregularities and corruption in recruitment, transfers and procurement at the Ministry of Youth and Sports during his tenure. A special team was formed to conduct the inquiry.
The commission later sought relevant documents from the ministry, including records on recruitment, promotion and transfers during his tenure. Those documents have since reached the ACC, according to the report.
On 13 September, the ACC also decided to conduct separate inquiries into fresh allegations against Asif Mahmud involving alleged bribery, recruitment and posting-related dealings at Dhaka’s two city corporations and money laundering.
The fresh allegations include alleged irregularities in the appointment of an administrator at Dhaka North City Corporation, alleged transactions over the posting of district commissioners, tender-related commissions at several city corporations and alleged laundering of large sums of money abroad.
The allegations include claims that Tk11,000 crore was laundered to five countries, with specific amounts allegedly sent to Dubai, Singapore, Australia and Switzerland and funds allegedly used to purchase land in Portugal.
The ACC has also received allegations involving recruitment and transfers at the Ministry of Youth and Sports and alleged irregularities in several infrastructure and development projects.
Asif Mahmud had earlier protested against statements made by an ACC public relations official regarding the inquiry, claiming that they had damaged his reputation. On 10 September, he reportedly served a legal notice seeking withdrawal of remarks that there was “initial evidence” of corruption allegations against him.
The ACC secretary, however, said on 9 September that the inquiry was being conducted against him in accordance with existing laws and regulations.
