The National Citizen Party (NCP) on Wednesday accused the government of seeking to turn the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) into a weapon against political opponents.
The party demanded the dissolution of the newly constituted commission over what it called an “opaque” and “unconstitutional” appointment process.
In a joint statement, NCP Convener Nahid Islam and Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain alleged that the government was seeking to return the ACC to its previous role as an institution subservient to the ruling party after leaving it without commissioners and effectively dysfunctional for seven months.
The statement came after national media reported that the ACC had launched an inquiry against NCP spokesperson Asif Mahmud, a prominent leader of the July 2024 uprising.
The NCP described the inquiry as a “dress rehearsal” for using the anti-graft agency to suppress opposition parties.
Nahid and Akhtar also questioned the appointment of a former Appellate Division judge as ACC chairman, saying legal and constitutional experts consider such an appointment a direct violation of Article 99 of the Constitution.
The party also criticised the repeal of an ACC ordinance introduced by the interim government, arguing that the move had restored the legal framework under which the commission previously operated as an institution beholden to the government.
The NCP accused the ACC of remaining silent despite what it described as serious allegations of corruption and conflicts of interest involving ministers, state ministers and their family members, including accusations of using influence to secure government contracts and misappropriate public money.
It also questioned the ACC's handling of the inquiry against Asif Mahmud.
According to the statement, an ACC spokesperson initially told reporters at a press briefing that “preliminary evidence” of corruption had been found. The official later sent a message to a journalists’ WhatsApp group asking them not to use the phrase “preliminary evidence,” the party said.
The NCP said the episode had undermined the commission's credibility and impartiality and raised doubts over whether allegations against Mahmud could be investigated fairly.
The party drew parallels with the use of the ACC during the previous Awami League government, saying the agency had been used to pursue cases against political opponents, including former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and current Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
It demanded that the current commission be dissolved and a new independent ACC comprising qualified and impartial individuals be constituted according to the process outlined in the July Charter.
“Attempts to turn the ACC into an ‘Opposition Suppression Commission’ must stop,” the statement said, calling instead for action against corruption within the government.
The NCP warned that it would launch a street movement if the disputed appointments were not scrapped and the independence of the anti-graft body ensured.
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