Pace of ACC cases changes with change of government
Graphics: Agamir Somoy
The pace and nature of cases filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) change with changes in power. Many cases that remain at the center of public attention during one government’s tenure disappear from view after a change of government. At the same time some other cases become active again. This has raised questions about the ACC’s neutrality and the continuity of its cases.
The autonomous commission was formed two decades ago to curb corruption. The ACC takes complaints when it receives specific information and data. It then files cases if an investigation finds the allegations to be true. After the initial investigation finds evidence of financial irregularities, a charge sheet or complaint is submitted. The trials then begin with all necessary preparations in place. But in the end half of the cases do not hold up.
Defendants are acquitted after being proven innocent. Allegations of corruption involving crores of taka are disappearing with time. An analysis of cases disposed of over 55 months has revealed this picture. The question now is whether the allegations of irregularities were false. If they were false then how were they substantiated twice?
An analysis of disposed cases shows that 1,475 cases were disposed of in the 55 months from January 2022 to July 2026. Of these 135 were dismissed at the charge sheet stage. All defendants in the 548 cases disposed of through verdicts were acquitted. Meanwhile defendants were convicted in 792 cases. The highest conviction rate was 61 percent in 2022. The rate fell to 57 percent in 2023. The lowest rate was recorded in 2024 when 47 percent of cases resulted in convictions. The conviction rate fell to 50 percent in 2025 and the first seven months of this year. The rate of case disposal has also declined along with the falling conviction rate. The highest number of cases were disposed of in 2022 with 346 cases. This fell to 341 cases in 2023 and 295 cases in 2024. The lowest number of cases were disposed of in 2025 with 267 cases.
According to commission statistics, 2,793 corruption cases remained pending until July this year. Proceedings in 292 cases have been stayed. From January to July 2026, 226 cases were disposed of. Of these, 10 ended at the charge sheet stage. A total of 114 cases ended in convictions and 102 in acquittals. In this period defendants were convicted in 50 percent of the cases.
Meanwhile, 267 cases were disposed of from January to December 2025. Of these, 134 resulted in convictions and 118 in acquittals. Another 14 cases were dismissed at the charge sheet stage. In this period defendants were convicted in 50 percent of the cases. Similarly, defendants were convicted in 61 percent of cases in 2022, 57 percent in 2023 and 47 percent in 2024.
The ACC has failed to prove allegations in many cases involving the acquisition of assets beyond known sources of income, illegal acquisition of assets and tax evasion and corruption. An analysis of these cases shows that former home minister and BNP Central Vice Chairman Air Vice Marshal (retd) Altaf Hossain Chowdhury was acquitted on November 19, 2024 in a case filed by the ACC in 2007 over allegations of acquiring assets beyond known sources of income. After 17 years it was found that the allegations against him were not proven.
A court acquitted BNP Standing Committee Member Dr Khondaker Mosharraf Hossain on December 1, 2024 in a case filed by the ACC in 2014 over allegations of acquiring illegal assets. He was proven innocent after 10 years. BNP Vice Chairman Barkatullah Bulu was acquitted on March 25 last year in a case filed by the ACC in 2007 over allegations of acquiring assets beyond known sources of income. After 18 years the allegation against him was proven false.
Former BNP deputy land minister Ruhul Quddus Talukder Dulu and his wife Sabina Yasmin were acquitted on June 22 last year in a case filed by the ACC in 2007 over allegations of tax evasion and corruption. They were proven innocent in the verdict after 18 years. BNP Joint Secretary General Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie was acquitted on July 23 last year in a case filed by the ACC in 2014 over allegations of acquiring illegal assets. After 11 years the allegations against him were not proven. BNP Standing Committee Member and former minister Gayeshwar Chandra Roy was acquitted by a court on October 5 last year in a case filed in 2009 over allegations of acquiring assets beyond known sources of income. He was acquitted after being proven innocent 16 years later.
Meanwhile, 10 corruption cases were filed against Awami League President and ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. She was made an accused in these cases between 2001 and 2007. Investigations found the allegations to be true and she was also charged in several cases. However, she was not tried in any of them. After winning the 2008 ninth parliamentary election the Awami League formed the government. She became prime minister for the second time and was cleared of the cases. However, a series of corruption cases have been filed against her following the July mass uprising.
The ACC filed a case against Awami League Presidium Member and former minister Mofazzel Hossain Chowdhury Maya at Sutrapur Police Station on June 13, 2007. He was accused of concealing information about assets and illegally acquiring assets worth Tk 2.9 million. On February 14 the following year, a Dhaka Special Judge’s Court sentenced him to 13 years in prison under two sections. He was also fined. Maya appealed against the verdict to the High Court. After the Awami League came to power, a High Court bench acquitted him on October 27, 2010. After the fall of the government, he has faced two more corruption cases.
Senior Supreme Court lawyer and constitutional expert Shahdeen Malik told Agamir Somoy that defendants cannot be convicted for four reasons: lack of knowledge required to file cases, lack of investigative expertise, political influence and cases filed for harassment. He said those who conduct preliminary inquiries and investigations at the ACC have very limited legal knowledge in these areas. They are not given adequate training. “The ACC is certainly used politically, although not indiscriminately.”
According to ACC prosecutors, procedural and institutional problems contribute to the low conviction rate in corruption cases. The ACC files cases after finding evidence of allegations during preliminary inquiries. But in criminal courts a witness is the only standard for proving a crime. If witnesses are not presented properly the allegations cannot be proven. Many corruption cases take 10 to 15 years to conclude. Important documents get lost over such a long period. Some people retire from their jobs. Others die during the trial or forget the details of the case. As a result, proper witnesses or documents cannot be presented. In many cases defendants escape conviction due to weaknesses in the investigation. However, prosecutors handling the cases do not leave any negligence in proving the allegations.
Legal experts however say political considerations have become more important than merit in appointing ACC prosecutors. Since lawyers affiliated with the ruling party are appointed, party loyalty plays a greater role than their professional responsibility toward the cases. The pace of cases also changes with a change of government.
An official responsible for ACC prosecution said there is no negligence in preliminary inquiries or investigations after cases are filed. They conduct investigations with utmost importance. In that case the matter of conviction or acquittal is entirely within the jurisdiction of the court.
Supreme Court lawyer Shahinur Islam said if there are flaws in the investigation or case documents the allegations cannot be proven at the trial stage. The truth comes out when witnesses are cross examined. People who are not guilty are made accused in cases. Meanwhile those who are actually guilty remain outside. As a result, the accused are acquitted after the trial.
