Published: 01:37 AM, 30 June 2026
Names being speculated for ACC top echelons
The independent Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) was established on 21 November 2004, replacing the Anti-Corruption Bureau with the objective of preventing and combating corruption independently. Since its inception, a total of seven commissions have served the institution, beginning with Justice Sultan Hossain Khan as its first Chairman and most recently the commission led by Dr. Mohammad Abdul Momen.
Amid political changes and various institutional challenges, only three of these commissions have completed their full tenure. The remaining four stepped down before completing their terms. While the commissions headed by former Chairmen Golam Rahman, Md. Badiuzzaman, and Iqbal Mahmood completed their mandates, those led by Justice Sultan Hossain Khan, former Army Chief Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury, Mohammad Moinuddin Abdullah and most recently Dr. Mohammad Abdul Momen, who resigned on 3 March 2026, left office before the end of their tenure.
Although 116 days have passed since the resignation of the Abdul Momen Commission, a new ACC commission has yet to be constituted. As a result, the ACC has remained without leadership for nearly four months-the first such occurrence in its history. In the absence of a commission, crucial decisions regarding inquiries, filing of cases, approval of charge sheets, arrest of accused persons, anti-corruption drives, seizure and freezing of movable and immovable assets, and imposing travel restrictions on suspects have all remained stalled. Without commissioners, the institution has effectively become non-functional.
There is, however, some optimism. On 22 June, a search committee headed by Appellate Division Justice Md. Rezaul Haque was formed to recommend candidates for the posts of Chairman and Commissioners. However, according to available information, the committee has yet to hold its first meeting or submit any recommendations to the President. Meanwhile, the names of several retired civil servants, former military officers, and members of the judiciary have been circulating in various quarters as potential candidates.
Speaking to journalists on condition of anonymity, several senior ACC officials said that nearly four months have elapsed without a commission. "It is only natural that the ACC cannot function without a commission because all major decisions require its approval," one official said. "Never in the history of the ACC has the institution remained without a Chairman and Commissioners for such an extended period. It is imperative to constitute the new commission as quickly as possible. It took four months merely to form the search committee. We hope the government will now act sincerely and expedite the appointment process."
Commenting on expectations regarding the formation of the new commission, Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, Executive Director of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), said that the search committee established under the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004 has raised certain legal concerns.
According to him, the law requires the immediate past Cabinet Secretary-not the incumbent Cabinet Secretary-to serve on the search committee. "No clear explanation has been provided by the government regarding this apparent legal deviation," he said. "To restore public confidence in the ACC, the appointment process must be conducted above political and partisan considerations."
Over the past three months, the names of several retired bureaucrats and judges have been widely discussed as potential candidates for the posts of Chairman and Commissioners. However, the search committee is responsible for recommending candidates. It will submit two names for each position, from which the President will appoint one Chairman and two Commissioners.
According to sources in the ACC, the Ministry of Public Administration, and the Judicial Service, the most frequently discussed candidate for the post of Chairman or Commissioner is Motahar Hossain, former Judge of Dhaka Special Judge's Court-3. The names of former Justice Asaduzzaman and former District Judge Ruhul Quddus have also been mentioned prominently.
Dr. Iftekharuzzaman observed that although appointments have traditionally been made from among individuals acceptable to the ruling authorities, those selected should possess the integrity and courage to perform their duties above partisan interests. "The appointees must be individuals of unquestionable integrity, professional competence, and a proven record free from corruption or any conflict of interest," he said. "Most importantly, the three top positions of the ACC require people who are uncompromising and firm in the fight against corruption."
Regarding legal reforms to strengthen the ACC, Dr. Iftekharuzzaman said that although initiatives have been taken to amend the law or issue ordinances, comprehensive implementation has yet to materialize. "While there has been much rhetoric about strengthening the ACC, the real challenge lies in ensuring its operational independence and institutional autonomy," he remarked.
He added that if future legal reforms are based on the recommendations of the ACC Reform Commission, it would be possible to establish a truly effective anti-corruption body. Otherwise, the reform process risks becoming merely symbolic. "To transform the ACC into a genuinely independent and powerful institution, strong political commitment and meaningful legal reforms are indispensable," he concluded.
