Legal Notice Demands Disclosure of Bribery Allegation Names

A legal notice has been issued to Member of Parliament (MP) Mufi Amir Hamza, demanding that he publicly disclose the identities of individuals allegedly involved in offering a bribe of 50 crore taka to influence the closure or operational status of Kushtia Medical College. The notice further stipulates that, within seven days of receipt, the alleged individuals must either be identified publicly or handed over to law enforcement authorities for investigation.

The legal action has been initiated on behalf of Hridoy Hasan, a member of the convening committee of the Kushtia District Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, through lawyer Abdul Majid. According to the lawyer, the notice was dispatched on Wednesday afternoon and sets a strict deadline for compliance. He warned that failure to comply would result in further legal steps being taken.

Allegation of a 50 crore taka offer

The controversy stems from remarks made by MP Mufi Amir Hamza during an iftar gathering held on 26 February in Kushtia city. In his public বক্তব্য, he claimed that he had been approached with offers exceeding 50 crore taka over a three-day period in relation to the medical college issue.

He stated that the proposal was made discreetly and would not be known to the public, emphasising that he refused the offer outright. In his remarks, he further declared that even if the entirety of Kushtia were offered, his position would remain unchanged.

He also added that while serving in office, he intended to ensure that no financial irregularities or undue gains would occur under his responsibility, reinforcing his commitment to integrity.

Public reaction and political debate

The remarks quickly circulated on social media, prompting widespread public debate. Many users and commentators called for transparency, urging the MP to disclose the identities of those allegedly involved in attempting to influence public policy through bribery.

Critics argue that failure to reveal such names raises questions about accountability, while supporters of disclosure insist that identifying the individuals is essential for upholding the rule of law and preventing corruption in public institutions.

On the following day, video clips of the speech went viral, intensifying public scrutiny and political discussion around the governance of educational and medical institutions in Kushtia.

Legal notice and accusations

After approximately one month, the formal legal notice was issued, reiterating the demand for disclosure. The notice asserts that the MP publicly claimed to have been offered a bribe in connection with the closure or obstruction of Kushtia Medical College Hospital, but did not accept the offer.

It further alleges that although the MP has repeatedly presented himself as rejecting corruption, he has not disclosed the identities of those allegedly involved, nor reported them to law enforcement.

The notice argues that both under Islamic principles and national law, bribery involves culpability on both the giver and receiver. Therefore, withholding the identities of alleged bribe-givers may amount to protecting criminal activity.

Local political response

Reacting to the issue, Hridoy Hasan stated that the legal notice was issued in pursuit of a corruption-free Bangladesh. He also claimed that the incomplete operation of Kushtia Medical College Hospital continues to cause public suffering and demanded clarity regarding who is obstructing its full functioning.

He warned that public movement or protest could be organised if necessary.

Similarly, Zakir Hossain Sarkar, member secretary of the Kushtia District BNP, commented that if the MP indeed received such a large bribe offer, the identities of those involved should be made public. He described the matter as potentially constituting a criminal offence and stressed the importance of transparency.

Attempt to obtain response

Attempts were made to contact MP Mufi Amir Hamza by mobile phone for his response to the allegations and the legal notice; however, no reply was received at the time of reporting.

Timeline of key developments