Giving a 24-hour ultimatum to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for an apology alongside threats of a defamation lawsuit—such a recent stance by the spokesperson of the National Citizen Party and former advisor, Asif Mahmud, has stirred intense heat in political and social circles. Just 13 months ago, he rose to the center of power as one of the prominent faces of the anti-corruption movement; today, he finds himself facing an investigation into allegations of BDT 2.76 crore corruption. However, the question arises: why threaten the investigating agency with a lawsuit instead of facing the probe?

ACC Allegations and Institutional Irregularities

The ACC's inquiry has uncovered two major instances of financial irregularities in the Ministry of Youth and Sports, totaling BDT 2.76 crore:

• Monetary Transactions in Official Postings and Cancellations: Charges of BDT 76 lakh in exchange for canceling the current charge assignments of 38 Upazila Youth Development Officers, and BDT 2 crore for promoting 15–20 individuals, have been raised. • List of Alleged Individuals: Four persons have been held responsible in these allegations—then-advisor Asif Mahmud, the then-secretary, a joint secretary, and a deputy secretary.

Asif Mahmud's Explanation and Bureaucratic Discrepancies

In response to the allegations, Asif Mahmud stated that he did not remove anyone against the rules; rather, he merely implemented court judgments from 2021 and 2025 regarding the cancellation of illegal current charge assignments made in 2021. Regarding promotions, he cited the recommendations of the Public Service Commission (PSC). He further claimed that postings at the upazila level are determined at the secretarial level, and as an advisor, he was not the signing authority. However, according to administrative analysts, an old game in Bangladesh's bureaucracy is that while the secretary signs the final file, invisible directives come from above. If the advisor had no administrative involvement at all, the question remains: why did his name emerge in the investigation?

Assistant Private Secretary's BDT 100-Crore Scandal and Banking Surveillance This is not the first controversy in Asif Mahmud's political career. Several serious allegations have been leveled against him previously: • The APS Scandal: Allegations of BDT 100-crore tender and lobbying trade using official position were raised against his Assistant Private Secretary (APS), Moazzem Hossain. As the situation escalated, he was dismissed, and the court imposed a ban on his travel abroad. This raises the question: when an APS builds a BDT 100-crore network, how plausible is it that it remained beyond the knowledge of the minister or advisor? • Bank Account Inquiries: The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) summoned the bank account details of Asif Mahmud and his family members. Although he claimed on Facebook to have only BDT 15 lakh, discussions surrounding alleged massive underlying financial transactions have not ceased.

Government Housing Controversy and 'Deep State' Politics Controversy also erupted over the prolonged occupancy of the government residence 'Niloy-6' on Hare Road, Dhaka, even after resigning from the advisory post. Enjoying state facilities 21 days after resignation questions the moral stance of a leader of an anti-corruption movement. Furthermore, last week he claimed that the 'Deep State' had given him a political proposal to extend the government's tenure until 2029. This statement makes it clear that while in the corridors of power, he was in contact with various influential circles. Legal Threat or Investigation Evasion Strategy? Analysts view the tendency to threaten defamation suits whenever allegations arise as an attempt to obstruct the investigation process. While inadvertent comments made by the ACC Deputy Director certainly reflect institutional irresponsibility, issuing a 24-hour ultimatum centered around that does not indicate an attitude of cooperation with the probe. Although Asif Mahmud claims not to have signed files, a major portion of administrative corruption occurs behind the files. Rather than choosing the path of legal threats, a political leader should have publicly brought forward all evidence to prove their innocence. Time will tell whether the ACC apologizes within the 24-hour ultimatum, but history proves that while legal threats may offer temporary cover, questions in the public mind cannot be evaded. This incident raises an eternal question: does power change a person, or does the light of power reveal their true face? Author: Dr. Abul Hasnat Milton, Journalist, Political Analyst, and Editor-in-Chief, The Source News Bangla