The government is going to form a high-level committee to investigate recent reports on illegal financial transactions over appointment of deputy commissioners.

Meanwhile, Public Administration Secretary Md Mokhlesur Rahman has said allegations of bribery over appointment of deputy commissioners were fabricated.

Actions will be taken against people concerned after the committee submits its report, Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told reporters after an advisory council meeting chaired by Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus at his office on Thursday.

In the press conference at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital, Shafiqul said, “The government is looking into the reports published in this regard by the daily Kalbela. We want to include some senior journalists in the high-level committee to look into the veracity of those reports.”

Social Welfare Adviser Sharmin S Murshid told reporters at the secretariat on Thursday that the chief adviser has ordered the formation of a committee with three advisers to investigate the bribery allegations against the public administration secretary.

She said, "The information adviser, law adviser and home affairs adviser will be in that committee. They can include some other people in that committee."

Regarding viral screenshots of the reported scandal, the social welfare adviser said it is not possible for ordinary people to tell whether they were fakes produced by AI (artificial intelligence) or real. So, the government has to check their authenticity.

"Irresponsibility of any kind in our administration or on the part of our most responsible officers will not be tolerated. We will and must bring that under discipline," she added.

Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said, "In the light of the reports currently published by the newspapers, we can say that we believe in freedom of press. But at the same time we would expect the newspapers not to spread any kind of disinformation in their news presentation."

"We hope that everyone will do responsible journalism, which will take the country forward and make us accountable. The chief adviser said ‘criticise us’. However, if it appears that someone is spreading fake news, that won’t be right. A Kalbela report regarding irregularities involving Tk3 crore was not correct."

Public admin secy brushes aside allegations

Public Administration Secretary Md Mokhlesur Rahman said on Thursday allegations that bribes were paid for the appointment of new deputy commissioners were “baseless”.

Bangla-language daily Kalbela ran two reports about claims that financial transactions had been made surrounding the appointment of deputy commissioners. The second report published on Thursday focused on the conversation of the public administration secretary and the joint secretary on WhatsApp.

When reporters drew his attention to the screenshots of messages between him and Joint Secretary Zia Uddin on the transaction of money for the appointment of new deputy commissioners, Md Mokhlesur Rahman said he uses a Samsung phone, whereas the screenshot photos published in the report show an iPhone interface.

When asked whether he would request an investigation into the accusations against him, he said the allegations were “baseless” and the report was “fake news.”

“I have written to the information secretary mentioning the name of this newspaper. A letter has been sent to the home secretary to arrest the person who issued the fake cheque. People involved in this scam will be arrested soon,” the secretary said.

“A letter has also been sent to the governor of Bangladesh Bank regarding the bank account that was opened due to the inexperience or error of a banker. Action will be taken not only against him but also to ensure that such issues do not arise in other banks as well,” he added.

When asked whether he would file a defamation case regarding news about public administration, the secretary said he is not giving any importance to this news. “Anyone can say anything. We work with the people from our respective positions in the government,” he added.