HC drops Asif Mahmud’s writ

Collected Photo

The High Court has removed from its cause list a writ petition filed by former interim government adviser Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan challenging the legality of a briefing by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in which the agency said it had found ‘prima facie truth’ in corruption allegations against him.

A bench, comprising Justice Bhishmadev Chakraborty and Justice SK Tah, passed the order on Tuesday after hearing the petition at the preliminary stage.

Asif Mahmud, spokesperson for the National Citizen Party (NCP), had filed the petition challenging the legality of the ACC’s statement made at the outset of an inquiry into allegations of corruption and irregularities against him.

The petition also sought a direction restraining the ACC from holding what it described as potentially defamatory press conferences concerning matters under investigation or inquiry.

Advocate Zahirul Islam Musa, representing Asif Mahmud, filed the petition with the relevant High Court section on Monday.

The ACC chairman, the commission’s deputy director and public relations officer, and an had decided to investigate allegations of a ‘transfer, appointment and promotion racket’ involving Asif Mahmud and others after assistant director and public relations officer were named as respondents.

According to the petition, an ACC deputy director said at a press conference at the commission’s headquarters on September 2 that the agency had decided to investigate allegations of a “transfer, appointment and promotion racket” involving Asif Mahmud and others after finding “prima facie truth” in the allegations.

The petition argued that under the Anti-Corruption Commission law, a finding of prima facie truth may be made as the outcome of an inquiry, but the9, the ACC secretary described the earlier remark as a “slip of the tongue” in response to questions from journalists. The concerned official also reportedly acknowledged in a WhatsApp group of journalists that the statement had been an on September 10, but the ACC held another press conference on September 13, where an assistant director raised additional allegations concerning the appointment of an administrator to Dhaka North City Corporation, postings of deputy commissioners, and alleged irregular the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the petition said the decision was made through a ministry order following a ruling took effect on May 11, 2026—nearly five months after Asif Mahmud resigned from office commission has no legal authority to make such a statement at the beginning of an investigation.

The petition further said that on September 9, the ACC secretary described the earlier remark as a “slip of the tongue” in response to questions from journalists. The concerned official also reportedly acknowledged in a WhatsApp group of journalists that the statement had been an inadvertent mistake.

However, the petition claimed that no formal and clear retraction was publicly issued.

The petition said a legal notice was subsequently served on September 10, but the ACC held another press conference on September 13, where an assistant director raised additional allegations concerning the appointment of an administrator to Dhaka North City Corporation, postings of deputy commissioners, and alleged irregularities involving WASA, LGED, development project tenders and alleged money laundering abroad.

Asif Mahmud described the allegations as baseless and untrue.

Regarding the cancellation of his additional charge at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the petition said the decision was made through a ministry order following a ruling by the Administrative Appellate Tribunal.

It also stated that the promotion of 150 assistant youth development officers referred to in the allegations took effect on May 11, 2026– nearly five months after Asif Mahmud resigned from office on December 11, 2025.

The petition argued that he therefore could not have had any legal or factual involvement in that decision.