The newly appointed Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Mohammad Abdul Momen, has officially assumed his duties. On Wednesday afternoon at 3:30 PM, the former Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs (Public Security Division) arrived at the ACC headquarters for the first time. Alongside him, newly appointed Commissioner and retired District and Sessions Judge Mia Muhammad Ali Akbar Azizi also joined the office. However, Hafiz Ahsan Farid, the other newly appointed Commissioner, has not yet assumed his role.

The appointments of the Chairman and Commissioners were announced on Tuesday through a gazette notification signed by Cabinet Secretary Sheikh Abdur Rashid.

On the day of the new leadership’s arrival at the ACC, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) called for the immediate publication of their income and asset details. In a press release, TIB urged the new Chairman and Commissioners to ensure transparency by disclosing their financial information, professional histories, and any potential political affiliations. The statement highlighted six specific aspects that need to be addressed:

1. A detailed account of personal and family income and assets, including any held in others' names.
2. Verification of the legitimacy of income sources.
3. Independent audits of asset declarations.
4. Disclosure of past allegations of abuse of power or corruption, if any, and the outcomes.
5. Information about direct or indirect political affiliations.
6. A commitment to resign voluntarily and cooperate with investigations in case of inconsistencies.

TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman also called on the appointees to adhere to the principles of non-discrimination and justice while executing their responsibilities.

In response, Mohammad Abdul Momen assured the public that within seven days, he and the Commissioners would disclose their complete asset and income details. Addressing allegations against him, he clarified that the ACC had received complaints in 2009, which were thoroughly investigated multiple times until 2022. He stated that the ACC had confirmed the allegations were unsubstantiated long before the recent political changes in August.

Momen emphasized his commitment to impartiality, stating, "We will work with integrity, free from political influence, to uphold the law. Eliminating corruption entirely is a tall promise, but we will do our best to make significant progress." He further dismissed concerns about political affiliations, explaining that his career included serving under three political governments and two caretaker administrations.

Discussing challenges such as case backlogs and allegations of harassment, Momen urged patience, stating, "Let us begin our work. We will demonstrate through action whether we can reduce harassment, expedite investigations, and ensure justice."

The leadership change follows the resignation of former ACC Chairman Muhammad Moinuddin Abdullah, Commissioner Asiya Khatun, and Commissioner Zahurul Haque on October 29. They cited "personal reasons" for their decision to step down. Moinuddin Abdullah, a former Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, was appointed as ACC Chairman in March 2021. Despite a five-year term, the trio left office one and a half years early due to the evolving political landscape.

To appoint the new leadership, the government formed a search committee on November 10. Chaired by Supreme Court Appellate Division Justice Md. Rezaul Haque, the committee included other distinguished members, such as High Court Justice Farah Mahbub, Comptroller and Auditor General of Bangladesh Md. Nurul Islam, and Public Service Commission Chairman Mobassher Monem. The committee submitted a shortlist of two candidates for each vacant position to the President for final selection.

Within a month of the search committee’s formation, the new appointments were finalized, marking a fresh chapter for the ACC under its newly constituted leadership.