Professor Dr. Asif Nazrul, the former legal, justice, and parliamentary affairs advisor to the interim government, has strongly criticized the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the judiciary for becoming mere pawns under the influence of the previous government. Speaking at a ceremony marking the International Anti-Corruption Day 2024, he highlighted that despite rampant corruption during the tenure of the former government, there was no real accountability, as both the ACC and the judiciary had been compromised.

The event, organized by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) at the Diploma Engineers Institute in Kakrail, Dhaka, was attended by various officials and stakeholders. Dr. Nazrul, as the chief guest, underscored that during the previous government's rule, corruption became institutionalized and was even celebrated, with no efforts to hold anyone accountable for it. He pointed out that even in cases of high-profile corruption, such as the sudden accumulation of vast wealth by individuals close to the government, no investigations were initiated.

In his remarks, Dr. Nazrul made specific reference to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s comments about the wealth of a person in her service. He mentioned that this individual had allegedly acquired properties worth 400 crore taka, a fact which Sheikh Hasina herself had openly mentioned without any apparent concern. Dr. Nazrul noted that under the previous government, the concept of corruption was normalized, and the idea that corruption was inherently wrong was nearly forgotten.

He further elaborated on the role of the ACC, stating that while the commission underwent several reforms throughout the years, it failed to take any concrete action against corruption during the last 15 years. Dr. Nazrul emphasized that the presence of the ACC and the higher judiciary alone was not sufficient, as the real problem lay in the fact that they were unable to act independently, being heavily influenced by political pressures. According to him, this lack of accountability led to the perpetuation of corruption, which remained unchecked throughout the years.

Dr. Nazrul also addressed the case of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, pointing out that she had been sentenced to ten years in prison primarily due to procedural errors in her trial, which he argued was a rare instance where the legal system actually took action. He accused the past regime of targeting political opponents while shielding its own members from scrutiny.

In his speech, Dr. Nazrul called on the current officials of the ACC to take a stand and investigate corruption from the previous administration. He remarked that with a shift in the political environment, the ACC now had the opportunity to conduct thorough investigations into the illegal wealth accumulated by ministers and businessmen during the previous government. He urged the commission to take advantage of the favorable conditions and demonstrate that they were not swayed by political pressure.

Furthermore, Dr. Nazrul emphasized that the public’s expectations were high, and the people were looking to the ACC to fulfill its duty and bring those involved in large-scale corruption to justice. He also stressed the importance of maintaining the moral integrity of the commission, encouraging the officers to remain immune to the corrupting influence of power.

In conclusion, Dr. Nazrul invoked the memory of those who sacrificed their lives during the Liberation War of 1971 and the 1975 movement, calling on the current generation to uphold the values of honesty and integrity. He urged the people, particularly the younger generation, to learn from history and stay committed to the ideals of justice and accountability.

The event was presided over by the ACC Secretary Khorsheda Yasmin, while Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, Executive Director of Transparency International Bangladesh and head of the ACC Reform Commission, attended as a special guest.