DIPAN NANDY

Following the ouster of the Awami League government on August 5, the Anti-Corruption Commission has significantly increased its activities, as the number of cases filed, charge sheets approved, and complaints investigated in 2024 surpassed those of the past five years, according to the commission’s draft annual report.

ACC Chairman Mohammad Abdul Momen said the commission is working impartially and not favouring any political party.

Following the mass student and public uprising on August 5, the ACC began investigations against former PM Sheikh Hasina -- who led the Awami League for over 15 years -- her family members, former ministers, and lawmakers. More than 200 party leaders and activists were also sued.

ACC activities were briefly halted after the resignation of the previous commission led by Moinuddin Abdullah on October 29. The commission resumed its work after Dr Abdul Momen took over on December 12.

According to the draft annual report, the ACC received 15,842 complaints in 2024. Of these, 1,894 were accepted for investigation, and 1,012 were forwarded to other departments.

In comparison, complaints accepted for investigation were 845 in 2023, 901 in 2022, 533 in 2021, and 822 in 2020. The ACC filed 451 cases in 2024, mostly against ministers, state ministers, and MPs affiliated with AL. The number of cases filed in previous years was 404 in 2023, 406 in 2022, 347 in 2021, and 348 in 2020.

Charge sheet approvals reached a five-year high in 2024, with 403 approved by the ACC. The report credits this rise to better training for investigators and improved monitoring by supervising officers. In comparison, the numbers of approved charge sheets were -- 363 in 2023, 224 in 2022, 260 in 2021, and 228 in 2020.

The ACC also made progress in asset recovery. In 2024, assets worth Tk 170.55 crore were confiscated in 69 cases through court orders, and another Tk 190.90 crore was frozen in 38 other cases.

However, fines collected totalled Tk 1,147.33 crore in 2024, which is lower than the previous two years. The amount was Tk 1,683.67 crore in 2023 and Tk 2,632.41 crore in 2022, while Tk 75.18 crore was collected in 2021 and Tk 72.48 crore in 2020.

Despite the post-August 5 momentum, many cases against BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman and other party leaders ended in acquittals.

The ACC Chairman clarified that since the commission resumed operations only on December 12, none of these acquittals were made by the ACC. Those were court decisions, which are outside the commission’s jurisdiction.

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