Staff Reporter

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has initiated an inquiry into corruption allegations against Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan, former adviser to the interim government and leader of the National Citizen Party (NCP), alongside three high-ranking officials.

The commission has formed a four-member special team led by ACC Deputy Director Md Zahid Kalam to investigate the charges, a senior official of the anti-graft watchdog confirmed on Wednesday (September 2).

The three other officials named in the investigation are former Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Md Mahbub-ul-Alam, Joint Secretary Dr. Sheikh Mohammad Zubayed Hossain, and Deputy Secretary Md Masum Ahmed.

According to ACC sources, the inquiry follows serious allegations against Asif Mahmud involving illegal gratification, financial irregularities, and money laundering amounting to hundreds of crores of taka. The complaints filed with the commission also accuse him of laundering money abroad and engaging in illegal bitcoin transactions.

Furthermore, the watchdog received multiple complaints from victims regarding alleged extortion, nepotism, and regional influence-peddling during his tenure.

ACC sources added that as the former youth and sports adviser, Asif Mahmud allegedly interfered directly in the formation and operations of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). He is also accused of obtaining various unauthorized benefits through his former Assistant Private Secretary (APS), Moazzem Hossain.

The investigation team will review the submitted evidence and report back to the commission.