Order on Asif Mahmud's Writ Over ACC Press Briefing Set for November 11

Hearing has concluded on a writ challenging the legality of an Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) press briefing that claimed preliminary truth had been found in corruption allegations at the very start of an inquiry, and of that claim's publication in the media. The High Court has set November 11 for its order. The writ was filed by Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, a former adviser to the interim government and spokesperson of the National Citizen Party (NCP).

The hearing was held on Wednesday (November 4) before a High Court bench of Justice Md. Bashir Ullah and Justice Md. Hamidur Rahman. Barrister Yusuf Ali argued for the petitioner.

Earlier, on September 29, a High Court bench had removed the writ from its cause list. The petition was later placed before the bench led by Justice Md. Bashir Ullah for a fresh hearing.

According to the writ, at a press briefing at the ACC head office on September 2, a deputy director of the commission said it had decided to open an inquiry after finding preliminary truth in allegations of transfer, appointment and promotion trading against Asif Mahmud and persons connected with him.

Asif Mahmud argues that under the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, preliminary truth must be determined on the basis of information obtained after an inquiry is completed. The ACC has no legal authority to announce that preliminary truth has been found at the moment an inquiry begins, he says.

The petition adds that on September 9, answering journalists' questions, the ACC secretary described the statement as a 'slip of the tongue'. The deputy director concerned also admitted in a journalists' WhatsApp group that the remark was an unintentional mistake. But the writ complains that no notice was ever published in the media formally withdrawing the statement.

The writ notes that Asif Mahmud sent a legal notice on the matter on September 10. Ignoring the notice, an ACC assistant director held another press briefing on September 13, it says, raising further allegations including the appointment of the Dhaka North City Corporation administrator, deputy commissioner postings, WASA, the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), tenders for various development projects and money laundering abroad.

Asif Mahmud has described those allegations in the writ as baseless and false. On the removal of his additional charge of the Youth and Sports Ministry, the petition says the decision was taken by ministry order following a verdict of the Administrative Appeal Tribunal.

He has likewise denied any involvement in the promotion of 150 assistant youth development officers. The writ says the promotions took effect on May 11, 2026, about five months after his resignation, so his involvement is neither legally nor practically possible.

The writ further alleges that the briefings were held to damage his social and political standing and to create a 'media trial' against him after he announced his candidacy for mayor in the upcoming Dhaka North City Corporation election. Such statements, he claims, run counter to the fundamental rights recognised in Article 31 of the Constitution and to the Information Disclosure Policy, 2011.

The writ seeks a direction restraining the ACC from holding such press briefings on matters under trial or inquiry, and has also prayed for an order requiring a formal withdrawal notice, with equal prominence, of the statements already published.