DHAKA, July 17, 2025(BSS) - The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) is yet to appoint new panel of lawyers for conducting its cases by removing 135 Awami League (AL) backed lawyers even after 11 months of July uprising.

According to sources, the ACC published an advertisement for appointing new lawyers to replace AL backed lawyers but there is no visible progress in this regard. As a result, trial process in corruption cases has been hampered seriously due to negligence in conducting the cases at the courts by the lawyers loyal to the ousted government.

There are enough progress in inquiring and investigating into the corruption cases by the ACC officials but the trials of those cases are being legged behind to due negligence and unwillingness of the panel lawyers appointed by past AL regime, the sources added.   

Meanwhile, the legal wing of the commission told BSS that applications from the expert lawyers have been asked to form the new panel of lawyers but the response is very poor. The applications of those who have already applied are now under scrutinization, the officials said. 

The commission in its website published the advertisement seeking applications from the candidates but the matter is pending for the last four months due to difficult and hazardous terms and conditions to be enlisted. 

A large number of investigating officers including Deputy Directors and Assistant Directors have already lodged complaints to the commission to remove the previous lawyers’ panel but no measures are to be taken in this regard.

When contacted, Deputy Director-Public Relations Department of the ACC Aktarul Islam told BSS that appointment of the new panel of lawyers is still pending with the legal wing. The issue would be settled soon, he added.

“It is very unfortunate for the nation that the ACC has failed to understand the spirit of the July revolution where the martyrs sacrificed their lives in the movement against fascist AL regime. The commission is yet to remove the previous lawyers panel even after 11 months of the mass upsurge”, Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kajal, former secretary of the Supreme Court Bar Association said, adding that the ACC will lose its credibility as an independent institution if they fails to ensure the trial of the fascists and their collaborators.