Dhaka: The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has initiated an inquiry into purported abuses of power, criminal misconduct, forgery, and financial fraudulence related to the 11th Jatiya Sangsad (JS) elections conducted in 2028. ACC Director General (Prevention) Akhtar Hossain announced this development during a briefing held today.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the commission has received numerous complaints concerning the national elections conducted in 2028, many of which were featured in various media outlets. To address these allegations, the ACC has constituted a five-member investigative committee tasked with examining the complaints. The charges include vote rigging on the eve of the elections, ballot fraud, inflated voter turnout figures reaching around 90 percent in certain centers, substantial financial dealings, and the misuse of power to secure victories for favored candidates.
Under the leadership of the then-Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, along with party leaders and workers across metropolitan, divisional, district, upazila, municipal, union, and ward levels, were allegedly involved in these activities. Additionally, a group of senior government officials were reportedly closely linked to the election irregularities. These officials included former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammad Javed Patwary, DMP Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia, former Chief of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Dr. Benozir Ahmed, former IGP Shahidul Haque, former defence and security adviser Tarique Ahmed Siddique, former Public Administration Affairs Adviser HT Imam, divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners (DCs), district returning officers, Range DIGs, Superintendents of Police (SPs), officers-in-charge (OCs), and district and upazila election officers and presiding officers.
The investigation team is expected to submit a comprehensive report after thoroughly examining media reports and scrutinizing the election results and other pertinent activities.