Published : 28 Sep 2026, 04:46 PM
Updated : 28 Sep 2026, 04:46 PM
Former interim government advisor Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain has moved the High Court challenging two Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) press briefings about corruption and money laundering allegations against him.
The ACC said at the Sept 2 and Sept 13 briefings that it had found “preliminary evidence” while investigating the allegations.
Asif, now a spokesperson for the National Citizen Party (NCP), filed the writ petition with the relevant branch of the High Court on Sunday.
The petition seeks a rule asking why statements made by ACC officials at the two press briefings should not be declared illegal.
It also asks whether the statements violated the constitutional protection of citizens’ reputation and dignity under Article 31 and contravened the ACC’s Disclosure of Information Policy-2011.
As an interim measure, Asif has sought the withdrawal of the ACC statements and asked the agency to refrain from further public comments about the investigation until the rule is resolved.
The petition also seeks an order for Asif’s response to the allegations to be published with the same level of prominence.
It argues that the ACC and its public relations officials do not have the authority to publicly present allegations of corruption or money laundering as established before the legal process is complete.
Making such statements at the beginning of an investigation exceeds the officials’ legal authority, undermines the presumption of innocence and subjects the person under investigation to a “media trial”, the petition claims.
The petition also links the timing of the briefings to Asif’s public announcement that he would contest for mayor of the Dhaka North City Corporation.
It alleges that the ACC used its institutional authority to damage his reputation for political purposes.
On Sept 2, the ACC said it had found “preliminary evidence” concerning several allegations against Asif, including one involving Tk 7.6 million.
The petition disputes the allegation, citing government documents that it says show the decisions in question were made by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal and the relevant ministry.
It says the ACC official who made the statement later described it as a “slip of the tongue” in a WhatsApp group with journalists. However, according to the petition, the ACC did not formally withdraw the statement or issue a public clarification.
Asif held a press conference on Sept 9 to reject the allegations, presenting government orders and other documents in support of his position, the petition says.
His lawyer sent a legal notice to the ACC the following day, demanding the withdrawal of the Sept 2 statement and asking the commission not to make similar statements in the future without verified information.
The ACC held another press briefing on Sept 13.
According to the petition, that briefing included allegations involving millions of taka in transactions linked to appointments at the Dhaka North City Corporation and the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), as well as tenders for development projects.
It also included allegations that around Tk 110 billion had been laundered abroad, including to Dubai, Singapore, Australia and Switzerland, and that property had been purchased in Portugal.
The petition says the allegations were subsequently carried as “breaking news” by several media outlets, damaging Asif’s reputation and dignity.
Asif’s lawyer Zahirul Islam Musa said, “They have no authority to accuse anyone or make statements saying that preliminary evidence had been found before the investigation or inquiry is completed or before a formal case is filed against anyone.”
