Dhaka: Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Chairman Dr Mohammad Abdul Momen expressed his concerns about individuals who own assets not disclosed in their election affidavits potentially becoming future leaders of the country. He articulated these concerns during a question-and-answer session at the founding anniversary event of Reporters Against Corruption (RAC), an association of journalists focusing on the ACC.

According to United News of Bangladesh, the event was presided over by RAC President Shafi Uddin Ahmed and conducted by General Secretary Tabarul Haque, with notable attendees including ACC Commissioner Mian Muhammad Ali Akbar Azizi, Brigadier General (retd) Hafiz Ahsan Farid, and Secretary Mohammad Khaled Rahim. Dr Abdul Momen referenced the 2008 general election, highlighting discrepancies between the disclosed and actual assets of then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He emphasized that proper functioning of both the Anti-Corruption Commission and the Election Commission should have led to the cancellation of her candidacy at that time.

Dr Abdul Momen called for the cooperation of journalists in verifying asset information submitted with nomination papers, acknowledging the difficulty for the ACC to conduct thorough scrutiny within a limited timeframe. He urged journalists to provide any suspicious information regarding an individual’s assets to the ACC first, encouraging them to act as investigators and assist in ensuring transparency.

Expressing his hopes for the future, Dr Abdul Momen reiterated that the ACC’s goal remains the establishment of good governance and justice for all. He underscored the necessity of eradicating corruption to build a just and fair state, emphasizing that future leaders must be righteous and committed to justice.