Dhaka: National Citizen Party (NCP) Spokesperson and former Youth and Sports Adviser to the interim government, Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain, has issued a legal notice to Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Deputy Director and Public Relations Officer Akhtarul Islam. The notice demands the withdrawal of Islam's remarks regarding 'preliminary truth' found in graft allegations against Bhuyain.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the NCP communicated to the media on Friday that Akhtarul Islam, during a press conference on September 2, asserted that preliminary evidence supported allegations of irregularities in transfers, recruitment, and promotions during Asif Mahmud's tenure as adviser. These remarks were subsequently disseminated widely across various media platforms and social media.
The NCP contends that Islam's statement, lacking formal investigation or concrete evidence, incited a substantial media trial against Asif Mahmud, fostering a public perception that the allegations were substantiated, thereby tarnishing his personal and political standing.
The NCP further reported that Akhtarul Islam later issued a message to journalists in a WhatsApp group designated for ACC beat reporters, admitting that his previous remarks were made "by mistake" and requesting the removal of the phrase "preliminary truth" from news coverage. Nonetheless, the party observed that the statement made during the public press conference was not formally retracted or corrected, allowing the media trial and negative public perception to continue.
The legal notice also highlighted discrepancies in the allegations. While the ACC official alleged that 38 upazila youth development officers were stripped of their current charge, the NCP clarified that the actual number was 112, and the action was part of enforcing an Administrative Appellate Tribunal order.
Additionally, the party argued that linking Asif Mahmud to the promotion of 150 assistant upazila youth development officers to upazila youth development officers was unfounded. They noted he resigned as adviser on December 10, 2025, while the promotions occurred on May 11, 2026, five months post-resignation and three months into the BNP-led government's tenure.
The notice demands that the ACC official retract his remarks unconditionally within 15 days and abstain from making unverified, unsubstantiated statements in the future. It cautions that failure to comply will lead to legal action, including under Section 500 of the Penal Code, which pertains to defamation.