Dhaka, June 25 (V7N) - The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of Bangladesh has officially responded to a viral social media post by Hasanat Abdullah, Southern Regional Organizer of the National Citizens' Party (NCP), in which he alleged that ACC officials demanded a bribe of Tk 100,000 from Dr Mahmuda Mitu in exchange for a “clearance” despite no formal charges against her.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, ACC Director General and Spokesperson Md Akhter Hossain dismissed the claims as defamatory and factually incorrect. He clarified that the individuals accused in the post have no affiliation with the ACC, and that such claims were made “without verification.”

Imposters Exploiting ACC Identity

According to Akhter Hossain, a fraudulent group has been impersonating ACC officials—including using fake identities such as chairman and director general—to extort money from unsuspecting individuals under the false promise of “case dismissal” or “clearance.”

“These imposters have no connection with the ACC,” he said, adding, “We have already taken legal action against them, and several members of the racket have been arrested.”

The Director General emphasized that the ACC has been issuing public warnings for some time to alert citizens about these scams. Several national media outlets have covered these alerts, yet some victims, unaware of the fraud, continue to publicly blame the ACC—damaging the institution’s image.

Public Urged to Report Fraud via Official Channels

In his remarks to the press, Akhter Hossain urged the public not to be misled by fraudulent calls, messages, or unofficial contact claiming affiliation with the ACC.

“If anyone is approached in this manner—asked for money or promised relief from legal action—they should immediately report it,” he said. The ACC encourages individuals to use the toll-free hotline 106, visit the nearest ACC office, or contact local law enforcement to report such incidents.

Context: Allegation by NCP Leader

The ACC's response comes after NCP leader Hasanat Abdullah posted on Facebook accusing senior ACC officials of demanding a bribe from Dr Mahmuda Mitu, a physician who recently joined the Red Crescent. The post alleged that Mitu was told to pay Tk 100,000 to avoid being falsely implicated in corruption, and included three video clips purportedly documenting parts of the interaction.

However, the ACC insists the accusation is baseless and involves identity fraud carried out by external actors.

Conclusion

The ACC reiterates its commitment to fighting corruption and maintaining institutional transparency. It also calls on political leaders and citizens to verify facts before sharing defamatory or misleading information that may compromise the integrity of national institutions.

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