Staff Correspondent

Hundreds of corruption allegations have been filed against the advisers of the recently departed Interim Government led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus at the office of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) .

 Within a week of leaving office, these written complaints have been submitted against the advisers.

 A responsible ACC official said that the rate at which complaints are being received suggests that a record may be set. Most complaints were submitted anonymously, although in several cases complainants provided their names and identities in written letters to the ACC.

According to ACC sources, these complaints will be verified in the same manner as all other complaints. Meanwhile, the Executive Director of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, said that no one is above the law. If the allegations are investigated and proven true, action must certainly be taken against them.

Sources said that corruption allegations have been raised against almost all advisers, including former Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus. Multiple complaints have been filed against the former Chief Adviser. Among the notable allegations are those related to employees of Grameen Telecom.

 Several officials of Grameen Bank have described how Dr. Yunus allegedly formed a trust in his own name to embezzle funds from Grameen Kalyan and Grameen Telecom. The complaint alleges that for tax evasion and embezzlement, Dr. Yunus established a trust in his own name.

 The sole purpose of this trust, according to the complaint, is to look after Dr. Yunus’s family. In this way, he allegedly evaded a substantial amount of income tax. Additionally, multiple complaints claim that during his tenure as Chief Adviser, Dr. Yunus laundered a large amount of money abroad.

More than a dozen complaints alleging corruption and money laundering have been filed against former Law Adviser Prof  Asif Nazrul. These allegations include case trading, bail trading, judicial appointments, and other corrupt practices. One complaint claims that Asif Nazrul embezzled crores of taka through bail trading. In this allegation, it is stated that the CEO of an industrial group fraudulently seized the property of his brother and sister. 

The younger sister filed a case, and the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) found evidence of fraud during its investigation. An arrest warrant was issued against the accused. 

However, it is alleged that Asif Nazrul ordered bail for the VIP accused in exchange for 20 crore taka. It has also been alleged that he arranged bail for Taposh of Gaan Bangla Television in exchange for a large sum of money. Relevant information has been attached to the complaint. It is alleged that over 18 months, Asif Nazrul arranged numerous bails in exchange for money.

Besides , allegations of corruption in appointments have been brought against him. 

Complaints to the ACC state that he took between 50 lakh and 2 crore taka for transferring judges in Dhaka and surrounding areas. There are also allegations of corruption involving crores of taka in sub-registrar appointments. 

After assuming office as adviser, Asif Nazrul allegedly transferred sub-registrars in lucrative areas such as Uttara, Badda, Gulshan, and Savar. It is alleged that through this transfer trade, he amassed crores of taka.

At least eight complaints have reportedly been filed against former Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan. Among them is alleged embezzlement of funds from multiple projects under the Department of Environment. She has also been accused of forcibly occupying others’ property. One complaint has been filed against her husband. A complainant has requested the ACC to investigate whether her husband is responsible for maintaining the property of former State Minister for Power Nasrul Hamid of the Awami League government.

A complaint has been filed with the ACC against former Energy Adviser Muhammad Fawzul Kabir Khan alleging that he extorted a large sum of money from Summit Group. There are also allegations of illegal transactions with various private power companies.

Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum has been accused of tender fraud, irregularities in hospital procurement, and corruption.

However, the highest number of complaints has reportedly been filed against former Student Adviser Asif Mahmud. A responsible ACC source stated that allegations amounting to nearly 1,000 crore taka have been made against him. Most of these complaints were filed by victims with names and addresses. 

Evidence has been provided in allegations of taking bribes without delivering services. He has also been accused of laundering money abroad and engaging in illegal Bitcoin transactions.

A complainant has alleged that former Information Adviser Mahfuz Alam accepted bribes in granting TV channel licenses. In this way, complaints have been filed against almost all advisers. ACC sources stated that these allegations are being scrutinized. Those with preliminary evidence of truth will be brought under investigation.

When asked, Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, Executive Director of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), said that if preliminary evidence of corruption is found and the allegations are cognizable, they should be investigated. No one is above the law. If the allegations are proven true, exemplary accountability must be ensured. In the past, corruption allegations had also arisen against some advisers’ offices. At that time, however, the ACC’s activities were not visibly evident. Now that they are no longer in government, the ACC can investigate. Previously, it has been observed that the ACC does not take action against those in government. 

 However, if any complaint is cognizable, the ACC must present justification, and if not cognizable, justification must also be provided.