DIPAN NANDY

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) set new benchmarks for inquiries, case filings, and convictions in 2025, though experts warn that numerical growth alone does not guarantee institutional effectiveness.

ACC data shows that 13,877 complaints were lodged between January 1 and December 31, 2025.

The commission initiated investigations into 2,536 of these -- around 18 percent -- marking the highest annual inquiry volume since its inception in 2004. Historically, the ACC investigated only 4 to 5 percent of complaints each year.

In 2024, the commission investigated 1,894 of 15,842 complaints, or 11.95 percent, which was considered a milestone at the time.

Case filings also increased significantly. The ACC filed 594 cases in 2025, the highest in a decade, naming nearly 3,000 individuals. In comparison, it filed 451 cases in 2024, 348 in 2023, 347 in 2022, 406 in 2021, and 404 in 2020.

Last year, the ACC submitted charge sheets in 413 cases and filed final reports in 89. It also disposed of 47 complaints and ordered 432 individuals to submit wealth statements.

The conviction rate in disposed cases rose to 52 percent, up from 48 percent in 2024.

The commission also stepped up efforts to seize illegal assets. Based on 370 applications, courts ordered the attachment of assets worth about Tk 29,310 crore, including Tk 6,137 crore in immovable property and Tk 23,172 crore in movable assets.

Despite these figures, experts remain cautious.

Dr Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of Transparency International Bangladesh, said assessing the ACC’s success solely on the number of inquiries is not appropriate.

“The past year was exceptional in many respects, particularly

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