ACC launches probe into NCP leader Asif Mahmud over alleged laundering of Tk110 billion

❐ Staff Reporter

National Citizens Party (NCP) spokesperson and former Youth and Sports Advisor Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan has been accused of handling crores of taka in appointments, transfers and postings and laundering 11,000 crore taka abroad while serving as an advisor to the interim government.

In addition to these allegations, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has also received allegations of money laundering in the appointment and promotion of officials at the Ministry of Youth and Sports. The agency has decided to investigate the allegations.

On September 2, the ACC launched an investigation against four people, including Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan, on charges of various irregularities and corruption in the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

On Sunday, September 13, ACC Assistant Director Mohammad Tanzir Ahmed said the new allegations would be linked to the ongoing investigation.

Mohammad Tanzir Ahmed said that Asif Mahmud is accused of dealing with about Tk 600 million in the appointment of administrators in Dhaka North City Corporation and Tk 20 million to 100 million in the appointment of 36 deputy commissioners (DCs) across the country.

Besides, while serving as the tender trade and local government ministry in Dhaka South City Corporation, he was charged 10 to 30 percent commission from development project tenders. There are also allegations of his involvement in the tender trade of Narayanganj and Comilla City Corporations.

There are allegations of embezzlement of thousands of crores of taka by inflating costs in rural infrastructure development and bridge construction projects under the Ministry of Local Government.

The ACC said that there are allegations of an abnormal increase in costs in the third phase of Dhaka WASA’s Sayedabad Water Treatment Plant project and an increase in costs of Tk 1,200 crore in the Sheikh Russell Mini Stadium project, which has been embezzled.

In addition to allegations of crores of taka in the appointments, transfers and promotions of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, there have been allegations of taking a bribe of Tk 100 million by appointing Abdus Salam as the Managing Director of Dhaka WASA and appointing former LGED Chief Engineer Md. Abdur Rashid Khan in exchange for a bribe of Tk 520 million.

There are also allegations that Abdul Latif Khan was appointed as the CEO of Gazipur City Corporation for a fee of Tk 650 million.

The complaint also alleges that Asif Mahmud wasted state funds by traveling by helicopter, regularly staying at five-star hotels including the Westin, living in luxury apartments, and using cars.

The complaint also claims that a huge amount of money was laundered abroad. Of this, 4,500 crore taka was laundered in Dubai, 3,000 crore taka in Singapore, 2,000 crore taka in Australia, and 1,500 crore taka in Switzerland.

It has been alleged that these funds were used to buy luxury villas abroad and invest in various businesses. There are also allegations of buying land in Portugal, investing in Dubai’s Green Group and depositing money in Swiss banks. There are also allegations of laundering crores of taka abroad through two sisters-in-law and a nephew.

ACC alleged that Tk 453 crore was allocated for his home upazila Muradnagar in the Rural Infrastructure Development Project. The allocation and receipt process of the project is questionable. His father Billal Hossain and APS Moazzem Hossain used to collect money by controlling the contractors’ syndicate and influencing the local administration.

In addition, the complaint mentions that his PO Mahfuzul Alam Bhuiyan has been lobbying for bribery transactions and abusing his power.

The ACC said that an investigation into allegations of corruption and irregularities against Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan is ongoing.

Meanwhile, the ACC has reported that allegations of irregularities in the Ministry of Youth and Sports have been received, including receiving Tk 7.6 million in exchange for canceling the current duties of 38 Upazila Youth Development Officers and issuing new posting orders.

There are allegations that 150 assistant upazila youth development officers were charged Tk 1.5 crore for their promotions and another Tk 2 crore for their postings to their preferred positions after promotion.

Earlier, on September 2, Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan was accused of dealing in crores of taka in appointments, transfers and promotions and laundering thousands of crores of taka abroad. In addition to these allegations, the ACC started an investigation into allegations of money laundering in the promotions and postings of officials in the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

However, Asif Mahmud has objected to these allegations and the ACC’s statement. At a press conference on Wednesday night, he demanded that the ACC withdraw its statement on finding ‘primary truth’ of the allegations against him. He also warned of legal action if the statement is not withdrawn within 24 hours.

Later, Supreme Court lawyer Muhammad Rafiqul Islam Joni sent a legal notice to ACC Public Relations Officer and Deputy Director Akhtarul Islam on his behalf.

The notice sent last Thursday (September 10) demanded the ACC withdraw its statement.

In a post on his Facebook account last Friday (September 11), Asif Mahmud claimed that Akhtarul Islam had announced at a press conference on September 2 that he had received ‘primary truth’ against him for allegations of irregularities in transfers, appointments and promotions. The matter was then widely reported in various media and social media.

Asif Mahmud alleged that the ACC public relations officer’s statement led to a ‘media trial’ against him before any investigation results or concrete evidence were released. This created an opportunity for the public to believe that the allegations had been proven, and damaged his personal and political reputation.