Extortion allegations politically motivated: Asif Mahmud

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Advisor Asif Mahmud has claimed that the extortion allegations against him are motivated. He spoke to reporters at the Secretariat on Thursday (August 14). Asif Mahmud said, ‘The extortion allegations against me are motivated. The matter is under investigation. It will be revealed in the investigation.’ When asked whether he would participate in the upcoming national elections, he said that he had not yet decided. However, he commented that it is not right for advisors of the interim government who want to participate in the elections to remain in their posts. I think that the reason why I should resign is so that the elections are not questioned, he said. Evaluating the one-year activities of the interim government, Asif Mahmud said, ‘The scale of failures is heavier than the successes in the past one year. There has been success in some areas, including price control, but in many areas, failures are clear. The desire for a coup was not fulfilled.