Bangladesh anti-corruption chiefs pledge results as leadership vacuum ends

New leaders of Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission took office Wednesday, ending a 170-day leadership vacuum at the state anti-graft agency and promising to demonstrate their effectiveness through their work.

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) chairman A.K.M. Asaduzzaman (pictured at podium) and commissioners Jahangir Alam Khan and Sajjad Hossain Bhuiyan joined the commission’s headquarters in Dhaka’s Segunbagicha neighborhood and met with officials.

“We will make decisions on every matter thoroughly and impartially,” one commissioner said. “Furthermore, you will be able to see progress on these matters in a very short time.”

Asaduzzaman said the commission would seek to work independently, meet public expectations, and restore the agency’s image.

“As today was our first working day at the ACC, we have started our work. We hope we can work for the country according to the expectations of the people and restore the image of the ACC, ” Asaduzzaman said.

The previous three-member commission, led by Abdul Momin, resigned March 3.

The new leadership takes over as Bangladesh faces persistent concerns over corruption. Transparency International ranked Bangladesh the 13th most corrupt country among 182 nations in its 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index. Bangladesh scored 24 out of 100, compared with a global average of 42, and ranked 14th most corrupt in 2024.

“We expect to bring good results in the coming days,” Asaduzzaman  said.