ACC Fails to Prove 50% Cases: Reports
Published: 11:47 PM, 30 September 2026
People Framed in False Cases Should Be Compensated, Say Experts
From Left: Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, Badiur Rahman, Barrister Sara Hossain, Dr. Shah Deen Malik. -AA
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), established to fight graft and protect public institutions in Bangladesh, is facing renewed scrutiny over the quality of its investigations, the low rate of convictions, allegations of political influence and complaints about the way its officials exercise their authority. Instead of becoming a symbol of impartial accountability, the commission has frequently been at the center of controversy, raising questions about whether its methods are strengthening or weakening public confidence in the fight against corruption. This phenomenon has been reported by a number of news outlets.
The figures themselves are concerning. According to the ACC's annual data, the conviction rate in corruption cases fell to about 47 percent in 2024, meaning that more than half of the cases disposed of that year did not result in convictions. The rate had been 57.18 percent in 2023 and 72 percent in 2020. At the end of 2024, thousands of ACC cases were also pending before the lower courts.
The problem is not simply the percentage of convictions. A corruption case can fail in court for many reasons, including inadequate evidence, weak investigation, procedural errors, unavailable witnesses, or delays in judicial proceedings. The declining conviction rate nevertheless raises a legitimate question: are cases being filed after sufficiently rigorous investigations, or is the institution sometimes acting first and gathering convincing evidence later?
That question becomes particularly serious when allegations emerge that honest business owners have been harassed during ACC inquiries. Businesspeople in Bangladesh have long complained about bureaucratic obstacles, and allegations that investigators or intermediaries demand money to ease pressure or influence the handling of a case can have devastating consequences. Such allegations should be investigated independently, because an anti-corruption agency cannot credibly fight bribery while its own officials are accused of seeking illegal payments. It should be noted that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was unlawfully accused by ACC. Tarique Rahman was also subjected to torment ruthlessly during the 1/11 hoax and he stayed in exile for 17 years.
Tarique Rahman's mother three times Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia was also hazarded by false ACC charges and she was forced to languish inside prison for several years. She passed away on 30 December 2025. Stern actions need to be executed right now to bring thorough rectification in ACC and to restrain it from being a political weapon in the hands of vicious and morally perverted people.
The alleged harassment of business owners is also economically damaging. A businessman who faces an unexplained investigation, repeated summonses, threats of arrest, or demands for money may suffer financial losses even if no wrongdoing is ultimately established. Such practices, if proven, could discourage investment and create the perception that legitimate entrepreneurship itself carries institutional risks.
Concerns have also been raised about the treatment of journalists and media professionals. Bangladesh's media environment has experienced considerable pressure in recent years, with journalists facing criminal cases and other forms of legal harassment. Reports published after August 5, 2024, documented hundreds of criminal cases involving journalists, although these cases were not all ACC cases. The use of anonymous or unexplained letters is another matter requiring scrutiny. If ACC officials send notices or letters to journalists, professors, students, lawyers, business leaders, politicians, or cultural figures without clearly explaining the legal basis and allegations, such action can create fear and reputational damage. A corruption agency should be able to distinguish between a legitimate preliminary inquiry and an intimidating exercise of official power. Any allegation should be supported by evidence and handled according to law.
The commission's political history makes these concerns more serious. Transparency International Bangladesh has argued that political and bureaucratic influence affected appointments and decision-making within the ACC and alleged that the institution had at times been used to harass political opponents or groups unfavorable to those in power.
The Daily Star has likewise reported criticism that the commission became politically influenced during the previous government.
The political transition of August 2024 produced a dramatic change in the ACC's activities. The interim government took office on August 8, 2024, after Sheikh Hasina left office following the mass uprising.
In the aftermath, the ACC sharply increased investigations and case filings against former ministers, lawmakers, government officials, and political figures associated with the previous administration. Its draft 2024 annual report showed 451 cases filed, the highest number in five years.
The increase in activity was understandable given the large number of allegations submitted after the political transition. More than 8,600 complaints were reportedly filed with the ACC after August 5, while thousands of other complaints were found outside its jurisdiction or lacking sufficient evidence.
Yet a sudden increase in cases also creates a danger: an anti-corruption campaign can lose credibility if it appears to be driven by political change rather than consistent legal standards.
The fundamental principle should be simple: the same law must apply regardless of political affiliation. A person should neither be protected because of political connections nor targeted because of political identity. The ACC's credibility depends on demonstrating that its investigations are based on evidence rather than political instructions, personal disputes, media pressure, or changes in government.
Another concern is prolonged detention. Anyone arrested in connection with an ACC case is entitled to due process, including timely judicial consideration of detention, access to legal representation, and a fair trial. If individuals remain imprisoned for extended periods without meaningful progress in their cases, the justice system itself becomes a source of punishment before guilt has been established. Courts, prosecutors, and investigators must therefore work together to prevent unnecessary delays.
The ACC's challenge is consequently much larger than improving its conviction statistics. It must establish a culture of professional investigation, evidence-based prosecution, internal accountability, and institutional independence. Officials accused of demanding money or abusing authority should face impartial investigation, just as ordinary citizens accused of corruption do.
Bangladesh needs a strong anti-corruption institution. But strength should not mean unlimited power. A credible ACC must be powerful enough to investigate the influential, yet restrained enough to protect innocent citizens from harassment. It must be independent from political parties and equally distant from bureaucratic pressure.
Corruption cannot be defeated by creating fear among citizens. It can be reduced through credible investigations, transparent procedures, competent prosecution, independent courts, and consistent enforcement of the law. The ACC's future therefore depends on whether it can transform itself from an institution surrounded by controversy into one whose authority rests on evidence, fairness, and public trust.
Dr. Shah Deen Malik said that ACC has become a highly controversial and denigrated organization during last more than one decade. People who were fictitiously accused by ACC should be compensated because ACC has failed to prove the allegations slapped on these innocent citizens.
Badiur Rahman, former Chairman of National Board of Revenue (NBR) said that it is not at all clear whether ACC was founded to fight corruption or to stimulate corruption and abuse of power. All cases filed by ACC should be thoroughly examined and immoral ACC officials should be subjected to exemplary punishment without delay, Badiur Rahman further said.
Barrister Sarah Hossain said that people's confidence on ACC has drastically declined. Under these circumstances ACC must work hard to regain its devastated image by running their operations transparently rising above fears or favours, she added.
Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, Executive Director of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) said that unprofessional approach from ACC and allegations of extortions and intimidating ordinary people by ACC officials have hit news headlines over and over again. Eliminating corruption is a far cry in this situation, Dr. Iftekharuzzaman commented.
