Sudden collapse of Moinuddin Commission, new ones in discussion

The commission led by Mohammad Moinuddin Abdullah, a subordinate of the previous Awami government, has collapsed. ACC Chairman along with Commissioner (Investigation) Zahurul Haque and Commissioner Achia Khatun (Investigation) resigned on Monday afternoon. 

The chairman and two commissioners suddenly left the ACC head office together at 2:10 p.m. that day. Their departure like a sudden fall of rhythm was desired, but today's departure was beyond imagination. Because, after leaving quietly without any prior announcement, the news of the resignation of the entire commission came out. Even on Tuesday morning, most of the ACC officials could not guess the matter.

The departure happened as quietly as the government remained silent on corruption. They even managed to dodge the eyes of the waiting media workers. ACC Chairman and Commissioner Achia Khatun came out through the main gate but another ACC Commissioner Zahurul Haque came out through the red fire safety gate behind. 

Although no official statement was received from the ACC regarding the resignation, chairman Moinuddin Abdullah acknowledged the matter over the phone. He told that he has resigned. The resignation letter will be sent to the President.

When asked why he resigned, he said, "I don't know."

On the other hand ACC Deputy Director (Public Relations) Md. Aktarul Islam said, according to section 10 of the ACC Act 2004, the commission submitted its resignation letter to the president.

Mohammad Moinuddin Abdullah was appointed as ACC Chairman on March 3, 2021. And on March 10 of that year, he joined with Commissioner Zahurul Haque. A year and a half later, Achia Khatun was appointed as Commissioner (Investigation) Mozammel Haque Khan. Their resignation is the second instance in the history of ACC. 

Earlier, Hasan Mashhood Chowdhury resigned after the Awami League-led grand coalition government came to power in 2009. At that time former secretary Golam Rahman was appointed to the vacancy of the chairman. On the other hand, the Reform Commission was scheduled to meet with the ACC on Tuesday. The meeting was canceled around 1 pm. The ACC canceled the meeting as it was the final decision to resign.

When asked about the cancellation of the meeting and the resignation of three people including the chairman, Chairman of ACC Reform Commission and Executive Director of TIB said. Iftekharuzzaman told, "We have been told that they have resigned following the instructions of the government." As the chairman and commissioners resigned, the meeting was canceled at their request. Their resignations were expected, not surprising. Since they resigned following the instructions of the government, the government must have thought about how the new commission would be constituted. 

He said, it is well known that those who were in the past or present were appointed under party influence, so they could never work impartially. Now that the Interim Government is in charge, it is expected that they will appoint administratively competent and competent persons maintaining proper standards. With whom people's expectations will be fulfilled. Recruitment is expected to be done before any vacancy arises. Their resignation was necessary, so it should be seen as positive.

According to an ACC source, the ACC Chairman and Commissioner have submitted their resignations to the commission office. In this regard, ACC Secretary and senior officials of the organization held an unscheduled meeting. After the meeting, the resignation letter was sent from the ACC to the President.

How was the Moinuddin Commission? 

After assuming office in 2021, Moinuddin Abdullah announced to bring the influential people under the law. But the opposite happened. ACC was not seen to take any action even though the incidents of corruption, bribery and money laundering in various development projects came up in the media.

The entire commission was busy catching retired officials and cheaters. And in that, the position of Bangladesh started falling in the conceptual index of corruption of Transparency International (TI), a Berlin-based anti-corruption organization. Bangladesh was ranked 12th in 2022 and dropped to 10th in 2023. 

Although, in the last three months, the commission was trying to gain confidence by starting investigations against about one and a half hundred ministers, MPs and bureaucrats of Awami League. Rumor has it, before the 12th National Parliament election, the Moinuddin Commission has given immunity to almost two hundred Awami Ministers and MPs. Similarly, after August 5, about half a hundred BNP leaders and activists have also been given immunity.

As many events as discussed

In 2023, the authority to transfer ACC Deputy Director and Assistant Director rank officers was removed from the hands of the ACC Chairman and Commissioners and entrusted to the Secretary. As a result, the power of the commission was reduced. There was anger and dissatisfaction in the commission itself about being bottled up in the hands of the bureaucracy.

The controversial Deputy Assistant Director of ACC lost his job by reporting against the influential people in Chittagong and Cox's Bazar. Sharifuddin Ahmed.

Two ACC officials were sent to assist the police and army raids at the residence of former senior secretary Shah Kamal, where Tk 3 crore was recovered recently. But in 2023, his complaint was terminated.

The current chief advisor. ACC filed a false case against Muhammad Yunus. Later, to save its back, the commission withdrew the prosecution from the case during the trial initiated by the ACC. Dr. Another case was prepared regarding the loan of Rs 9 crore to the family firm of Muhammad Yunus. It did not progress due to pot changes.

Under the pressure of the High Court, Tk 13 crore was withdrawn from her bank account even during the investigation of the complaint against former IGP Benazir. Due to the negligence of the administration and the ACC, he was able to flee the country.

During the previous government's tenure, the commission ignored numerous complaints of former ministers, including the smuggling of one billion dollars by the corrupt S. Alam to Singapore, the terrible November in Islami Bank, the smuggling of thousands of crores of rupees, the second home complaint of 549 Awami League leaders on golden visa in Dubai. 

Allegedly, Mohammad Moinuddin through his brother Mohiuddin Abdullah committed various corruptions including settlement of complaints, transfer and promotion trade in exchange of bribe.

Despite specific complaints against former Army Chief General (retd) Aziz Ahmed and DMP Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia, the commission did not take it into consideration. No action was taken against former land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury and his wife despite having huge properties in the US, UK and Dubai.

No action was taken at that time even though ACC had the information of Tk 400 crores of Jahangir Alam, the peon of the former prime minister's house.

Chowdhury Nafiz Sarafat, a well-known name in the financial sector, has been accused of taking over banks and looting money from the stock market, various corruptions including the takeover of Islami Bank in 2017 by S Alam Group; The then commission did not take any effective action. Harun, Biplab, Habibur and other corrupt officials of the police department were accused but left without investigation. A public search was later launched. 

The ACC approved a case against 13 people including BIWTA chairman Commodore Ghulam Sadek for embezzling Tk 6 crore from the government, which was later withdrawn through bribery and corruption, it is alleged. 

Former Director General of ACC A.N.M. Al Firoz was brought in as the Director General of the ACC while the investigation was ongoing and his charges were dropped.

Another former Director General Rezanur Rahman's father-in-law Rajuk director (later member estate) Md. An attempt was made to cover up the corruption of Rezaul Karim Tarfdar. Later, due to the construction of non-design buildings, Banani F. And. A case was filed against Rezaul Karim Tarafdar, who was responsible for the loss of life and property in the terrible fire in the tower and was involved in the forgery of the design of Sheraton Hotel in Banani.

While he was the chief executive of Rangpur City Corporation, the former director Aktar Hossain Azad was accused of tender fraud worth hundreds of crores of rupees. Later, ACC came as director and arranged to remove his name from the case.

Those who are discussing the formation of the commission

The process of preparing the search committee to appoint the ACC Commission has started. A search committee cannot be formed unless the post is vacant. Three top officials have submitted their resignations after getting a hint from the cabinet department. A search committee may also be formed soon.

According to ACC, Public Administration and Judicial Service sources, former army chief General (retd) Iqbal Karim Bhuiya, secretary of the Prime Minister's Office during the BNP-Jamaat coalition government, AHM Nurul Islam and former judge of Dhaka's Special Judge Court-3 will be the chairman of the new commission. Motahar Hossain's name is being heard quite loudly.

AHM Nurul Islam was compulsorily retired on June 3, 2004. A case was also filed against him by the Anti-Corruption Bureau. 

According to ACC sources, he saved the documents of the Prime Minister's office in the form of CDs for his personal needs. A case was filed against him on this charge. Later ACC withdrew the complaint against him. And Motahar Hossain on November 17, 2013 announced the verdict of the corruption case related to money laundering against BNP Acting Chairman Tarek Rahman. He acquitted Tariq Rahman in the judgment as no charges were proved. ACC also had an inquiry against Motahar Hossain. was settled later.

The names of former Director General (DG) of ACC Munir Chowdhury of administration cadre, Moidul Islam of Judicial Service, Amirul Alam of ACC's own manpower, Acting Director General Noor Ahmed, Lieutenant General Chowdhury Hasan Sarwardi are being discussed for the other two commissioner posts. Among them, Munir Chowdhury's house is in Chittagong Division. 

ACC officials say past experience has shown that those whose names are heard are not brought to commission. The interim government, BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami are looking for people of their choice for the new commission. Administration cadres also want to retain their influence. Law enforcement and judicial services also want to appoint people of their choice to the ACC.

History of the ACC 

The Anti-Corruption Commission was established on November 21, 2004 by abolishing the 'Corruption Bureau' under the Prime Minister's Office. Retired Justice Sultan Hossain Khan took over as chairman. He resigned in 2007 during the caretaker government of 'One-Eleven' before completing his four-year term.

The commission was reconstituted in 2007 under the leadership of former army chief Hasan Mashhood Chowdhury during the caretaker government. He also returned before completing his term. Then in 2009 former secretary Golam Rahman became the chairman. When he returned after the term, he became chairman in 2013. Badiuzzaman.

Then retired senior secretary Iqbal Mahmud was appointed in March 2016. After Iqbal Mahmud's tenure, former secretary Mohammad Moinuddin Abdullah took over as chairman in March 2021. Former district judge joined him as commissioner. Zahurul Haque

Meanwhile, when the term of Commissioner Mozammel Haque Khan, who was appointed with Iqbal Mahmud's commission, was completed, he was replaced by former secretary Mocha in July last year. Achiya Khatun.

After the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government on August 5, the interim government took over on August 8. After the Pot change, the demand for state reform became increasingly strong. Since then, various institutions and organizations of the state have seen extensive changes. According to multiple sources of ACC, two commissioners and chairman decided to resign last July. But they did not resign.