Asif rejects Tk 11,000 crore laundering allegations, accuses ACC of political bias
DHAKA, Bangladesh — National Citizen Party spokesperson Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain on Sunday rejected allegations that he laundered about Tk 11,000 crore to destinations including Australia, Dubai and Singapore, saying he was prepared to face any investigation.
“These are allegations of corruption involving promotions that took place during the BNP government’s tenure, but they are being used against me for political reasons,” Asif said at a news conference at the NCP office in Banglamotor.
“They are making one allegation today and may make another tomorrow. Let them continue. We are prepared for this,” he said.
The Anti-Corruption Commission announced earlier that it would investigate allegations of corruption and irregularities involving recruitment, transfers and promotions at the Ministry of Youth and Sports during Asif’s tenure as an adviser to the interim government.
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Asif has previously described the ACC inquiry as politically motivated, arguing that some of the decisions cited in the allegations were made after he had left office.
“When we saw that the ordinance issued to reform the ACC was scrapped, we understood why and how the ACC would be used as a weapon,” he said.
Asif also criticized the government’s economic and energy policies and accused the Bangladesh Nationalist Party of failing to fulfill its election promise to create 10 million jobs.
“The BNP promised to create one crore jobs. They have indeed fulfilled that promise by opening avenues for extortion,” he said, alleging that the party had created employment opportunities for about 5 million of its supporters.
“Earlier, you had to pay extortion money at one place. Now, you have to pay at four places just to get in,” he alleged.
Asif also described recent public processions by members of the banned Awami League as a threat to public safety. Referring to a procession in Dhaka’s Gulshan area, he questioned the government’s ability to prevent such activities.
“Especially in Dhaka-17, the constituency from which the prime minister was elected, members of the banned party are holding processions. Yet the BNP, despite being in government, is unable to stop them,” he said.
Earlier at the news conference, NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary urged Awami League leaders and activists to return home rather than organize processions and rallies.
“There is no point in holding processions and rallies. Your leader is not returning in December. She has no time to think about her leaders and activists. There is still time. Go back home,” he said.
Nasiruddin also announced that the NCP would contest the upcoming local government elections independently.
He said, however, that the parties in the 11-party alliance would act jointly if anyone attempted to seize polling centers or manipulate the vote.
