'Publish the files on irregularities,' Asif Mahmud challenges State Minister

State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives (LGRD) Mir Shahe Alam has accused former advisor Asif Mahmud Sojib Bhuiyan of approving files related to a Local Government Division project without the secretary's signature. In response, the spokesperson for the National Citizens' Party (NCP) demanded the release of the relevant files. On Saturday, Asif Mahmud issued a challenge in his reaction.

He said, "I am calling on Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and State Minister Mir Shahe Alam to publish the files concerning the irregularities. If there were any irregularities, the public has the right to know."

Earlier on the same day, the State Minister for Local Government made allegations against Asif Mahmud at a press conference at the Secretariat.

Mir Shahe Alam said the government has formed a seven-member committee to investigate corruption and irregularities within the Local Government Division and its subordinate departments and agencies from 2009 to 2026. The committee, formed with the Director General of the Local Government Division as its convener, has been instructed to investigate irregularities during the ousted Awami League government and the interim government and submit a report within 60 working days.

Citing the example of a development project in Pirojpur, Mir Shahe Alam claimed that six thousand crore taka was withdrawn without any work being done after awarding a tender. As a result, development projects in the district have been stalled for the past two years.

According to him, not only in Pirojpur but also in the construction of roads and bridges in various districts across the country, there are allegations of irregularities and corruption.