ACC Chairman to submit wealth statement by 7 daysNew ACC chief Momen, commissioner take charge

Mohammad Abdul Momen, a former secretary of the Public Security Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs, has taken charge as the chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission, or ACC.

A statement issued by the watchdog said the new ACC chief arrived at his office around 3:30pm on Wednesday.

Another member of the commission, retired district and sessions judge Mian Md Ali Akbar Azizi, entered the ACC office at the same time after taking charge as Momen.

However, retired army officer Hafiz Ahsan Farid did not take on his duties on Wednesday.

After taking the charge, the new ACC chairman said he will submit his income and wealth statements within the next seven days to ensure accountability and transparency.

Earlier in the day, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) called upon the newly-appointed chairman and commissioners to disclose their income and asset statements to ensure accountability and transparency.

Earlier on Tuesday, a notification signed by Cabinet Secretary Sheikh Abdur Rashid announced the appointments of the ACC chairman and two commissioners.

The Cabinet Division, as per the approval of President Mohammed Shahabuddin, issued this notification.

On Oct 29, former ACC chief Mohammad Moinuddin Abdullah, and former commissioners Asia Khatoon and Jahurul Haque resigned from their posts, citing “personal reasons” amid a widespread reshuffling in the administration after the government changeover.

Moinuddin was once a senior secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture. He took over as ACC chairman on Mar 3, 2021.

Although they were assigned to the ACC for a five-year term, they had to leave one and a half years before their term was completed under the changed circumstances.

The interim government formed a search committee to recommend candidates for the position of ACC chairman and commissioners on Nov 10.

Supreme Court Appellate Division Justice Md Rezaul Haque was appointed as the head of the committee.

The other members were High Court Division Justice Farah Mahbub, Comptroller and Auditor General of Bangladesh Md Nurul Islam, Public Service Commission, or PSC, Chairman Mobasser Monem, and former Cabinet Secretary Md Mahbub Hossain.

The selection panel was tasked with recommending at least two names for each vacant position.

The new chairman and two commissioners were appointed within a month of the formation of the selection committee to form the new ACC commission.