Staff Reporter:

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has sought all documents and record files regarding the recruitment, promotion, and transfer of the officials and employees under the Ministry of Youth and Sports during the tenure of former adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan.

The anti-graft watchdog has also sought records concerning the assignment, cancellation, and posting of current charge duties for 38 Upazila Youth Development Officers.

A letter signed by ACC Deputy Director and head of the inquiry team Md. Zahid Kalam was sent to the Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports on Thursday (September 3). The ministry has been directed to submit the requested information and documents to the ACC by September 10.

According to the letter, a four-member inquiry team has been formed to investigate allegations of corruption and irregularities against former adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan, former Youth and Sports Secretary Md. Mahbub-ul-Alam, Joint Secretary Sheikh Mohammad Zobayer Hossain, and Deputy Secretary Md. Masum Ahmed.

To ensure a thorough investigation, the commission requested five categories of documents from the ministry:

1. Certified copies of records concerning the recruitment, promotion, and transfer of officials and staff during Asif Mahmud’s tenure.
2. Certified copies of transfer files based on two memos issued by the Ministry of Public Administration on May 7, 2025, and April 18, 2026.
3. Certified copies of files related to the assignment, revocation, and posting of current charge duties for 38 Upazila Youth Development Officers based on three specific official memos.
4. Certified copies of personal files belonging to several Assistant Upazila Youth Development Officers working at the field level.
5. Relevant legal frameworks, rules, and supporting documents corresponding to the requested files.

Earlier on Wednesday, the ACC announced the launch of its formal inquiry against Asif Mahmud and the three senior ministry officials. The allegations center on bribery involving the promotion and transfer of Upazila Youth Development Officers and Assistant Upazila Youth Development Officers, as well as irregularities in public procurement and tendering through a syndicate.

According to the ACC, the suspects allegedly accepted Tk 76 lakh in bribes for canceling and reassigning the current charge duties of 38 Upazila Youth Development Officers, Tk 1.05 crore for promoting 150 Assistant Upazila Youth Development Officers, and nearly Tk 2 crore for favorable post-promotion postings.

Meanwhile, former adviser Asif Mahmud has denied the allegations and demanded that the ACC withdraw its statement regarding preliminary findings of truth in the claims. Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday night, he warned of taking legal action if the statement was not retracted within 24 hours.