Since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government on 5 August 2024, Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has launched investigations into over 300 high-profile individuals, including former ministers, MPs, businessmen, and bureaucrats.
Despite initiating 525 inquiries and filing 297 cases between August 2024 and March 2025, the ACC has managed to conclude only five cases in that period — a sharp drop from 223 in the first half of 2024.
Officials cite severe understaffing as a key reason for the backlog, with each officer handling four to five complex cases simultaneously. A deputy director told The Business Standard that high-profile investigations — particularly into figures such as S Alam, Salman F Rahman, and former ministers — require extensive time due to the scale of their wealth and alleged money laundering networks.
As of March, around 9,000 cases remain pending. Many investigations have exceeded the legal deadlines of 75 days for inquiries and 270 days for full investigations, raising concerns about probe quality and timely resolution.
The ACC has also frozen assets belonging to several business groups and individuals, including former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her family members, and multiple ministers from her administration.
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman, who also leads the ACC Reform Commission, warned that excessive workload risks undermining the quality of investigations. However, ACC Director General Md Akhtar Hossain insisted the commission is maintaining quality while working with the available manpower.
LND/SAE
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