Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Moinuddin Abdullah has resigned alongside two ACC commissioners — Asia Khatoon and Md Jahurul Haque.
Confirmed by official sources on Tuesday, the resignations come roughly two months after the fall of the Awami League-led government amid a student-led mass uprising and as the interim government initiates extensive reforms in key public institutions.
These reforms, aimed at purging political influence from the ACC, are part of a broader effort led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, who established six dedicated commissions, including the ACC Reform Commission, on 11 September.
The commission’s mandate is to enhance the integrity and efficacy of the ACC, positioning it as an independent, accountable body equipped to tackle corruption effectively.
Moinuddin Abdullah, a cadre official of Bangladesh Civil Service since 1983, was appointed as ACC chairman on March 3, 2021.
Md Jahurul Haque joined as a commissioner on the same date, while Asia Khatoon, formerly Secretary at the Bangladesh Public Service Commission Secretariat, was appointed commissioner shortly thereafter.
Public expectations of the ACC’s renewed vigour in fighting corruption have surged since the transition of power, as citizens look towards the institution for substantive efforts in curbing graft.
Historically, however, Bangladesh’s Election Commissions, regardless of leadership, have struggled to contain corruption, further fueling public hope that the ACC will rise to the challenge.
Bangladesh continues to perform poorly on international indices measuring governance and corruption, including the World Justice Project’s Rule of Law Index, the Regulatory Quality Indicator, and Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index.
These measures consistently place Bangladesh low on factors such as government effectiveness, political stability, voice and accountability, press freedom, and civil liberties.
Financial estimates highlight that the annual illicit outflow of funds from Bangladesh exceeds, by conservative measures, three times the $4.5 billion loan arranged with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) over 42 months.
This loan, which is subject to repayment with interest, also introduces limitations on policy autonomy. Experts argue that with sufficient political commitment and institutional capabilities, Bangladesh could substantially reduce reliance on foreign loans by curbing illicit financial flows.
