A series of startling allegations of corruption involving advisers to Bangladesh’s former interim government has begun to surface, prompting growing scrutiny from investigators and anti-corruption authorities. Reports indicate that complaints against several advisers — as well as officials appointed on their recommendations — have been submitted to the country’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), raising concerns about possible abuse of power during their tenure.
According to sources familiar with the matter, hundreds of written complaints have been lodged with the ACC shortly after the advisers stepped down from their posts. The allegations range from financial irregularities and influence-peddling to misuse of state resources and questionable appointments within public institutions.
Public expectations had been high when the interim government assumed office following the July uprising, during which student groups and sections of the public placed their trust in a new leadership structure. However, the growing number of accusations has led many observers to question whether some advisers used their authority and influence for personal or political gain.
Concerns about corruption within the interim administration were not entirely new. In August last year, former secretary ABM Abdus Sattar publicly claimed that he possessed evidence of extensive corruption involving at least eight advisers. At the time, the interim government dismissed the allegations as baseless. Yet recent developments have revived debate over the credibility of those earlier claims.
Investigations have already begun into several individuals. Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU), which is responsible for probing money laundering and illicit financial flows, has initiated inquiries into four former advisers and one special assistant. The agency has requested detailed bank account records in order to examine whether any suspicious transactions occurred during their time in office.
Individuals Under Financial Scrutiny
| Name | Former Role | Nature of Inquiry |
|---|---|---|
| Syeda Rizwana Hasan | Adviser | Bank accounts reviewed for unusual transactions |
| Fawzul Kabir Khan | Adviser | Possible financial irregularities |
| Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan | Adviser (Local Government, Rural Development, Youth & Sports) | Allegations of corruption and project irregularities |
| Adilur Rahman Khan | Adviser | Financial transactions under scrutiny |
| Khoda Baksh Chowdhury | Special Assistant (Home Ministry) | Investigation into possible money laundering |
Among those facing the most serious accusations is former adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, who oversaw the Local Government, Rural Development and Youth & Sports portfolio. Reports suggest he is accused of exerting undue influence to increase the costs of various development projects and initiating questionable schemes in his own constituency.
Controversy has also surrounded individuals closely associated with him. His former Assistant Private Secretary (APS), Moazzem Hossain, was reportedly dismissed while Bhuiyan was still in office due to multiple corruption allegations. Authorities are now investigating those claims.
Further irregularities have emerged in tax records linked to individuals connected with Moazzem Hossain. According to information from the National Board of Revenue (NBR), the brother of the APS’s driver declared income amounting to approximately Tk 18 million in the 2024–25 fiscal year — a figure that investigators believe may not correspond with his known sources of income.
Questions have also been raised about appointments made during the interim administration. The ACC is examining allegations of corruption involving Ejaz, a former administrator of Dhaka’s city corporation who was reportedly appointed following a recommendation from Bhuiyan. Authorities are looking into claims of fund misappropriation and administrative irregularities during his tenure.
Other complaints involve officials linked to former student advisers, including allegations of influence in recruitment within the mobile financial service provider Nagad and suspected bribery in the granting of television channel licences. Additional allegations have also surfaced against former Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H. Mansur and former Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum.
Transparency advocates have urged that the accusations be investigated thoroughly. Dr Iftekharuzzaman, Executive Director of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), emphasised that accountability is essential if the allegations prove credible.
He noted that any preliminary evidence of corruption should be examined carefully by investigators and, if substantiated, those responsible must face legal consequences. “No individual,” he stressed, “should be considered above the law.”