Lesson 3/34 min
Attorney General, Ombudsman and the ACC
The Attorney General (Article 64)
- The state's chief law officer, appointed by the President
- Must be qualified to be a Supreme Court judge; holds office at the President's pleasure
- Has the right to appear and be heard in all courts
- There is one such office, counted as an executive-branch officer (asked in the 46th BCS)
- In 2026 the Attorney General is Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kazal, the 18th, appointed in March 2026
The Ombudsman (Article 77)
- Parliament may provide for an Ombudsman by law; the Ombudsman Act was passed in 1980
- The world's first Ombudsman was in Sweden, in 1809
- No one has been appointed since independence; in May 2026 the High Court issued a rule asking why this inaction should not be declared unconstitutional
Watch out: Khandokar's book says the 15th Amendment abolished the Ombudsman's post. That is not right: Article 77 is still in the Constitution in 2026; the post is simply vacant.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC)
- Not in the Constitution; created by the Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2004 (in place of the Anti-Corruption Bureau)
- Head office at Segunbagicha, Dhaka; hotline 106
- The first chairman was Justice Sultan Hossain Khan
- In 2026 the chairman is Justice A K M Asaduzzaman, who took office on 19 August 2026 with two commissioners
Watch out: Khandokar's book gives 9 May 2004 as the founding date and Moin Uddin Abdullah as current chairman. Sources differ on the date, so only the year 2004 is given. The chairman's name is out of date: Mohammad Abdul Momen resigned in March 2026.
Constitutional, or created by law?
| Body | Type |
|---|---|
| Election Commission (118), Public Service Commission (137) | Constitutional |
| Office of the Auditor General (127), office of the Attorney General (64) | Constitutional |
| Administrative tribunals (117) | Constitutional |
| Anti-Corruption Commission | Created by law |
| University Grants Commission | Not constitutional (a printed exam answer) |
| Bangladesh Competition Commission | A statutory body |
Check yourself
In which article of the Constitution is the Ombudsman's post provided for?
At a glance
- 1
The Attorney General comes from Article 64; the President appoints; the state's chief law officer.
- 2
The Ombudsman comes from Article 77; the Ombudsman Act is of 1980; the post is still vacant. The world's first Ombudsman was in Sweden (1809).
- 3
The ACC is not constitutional: it was formed under the ACC Act 2004; office at Segunbagicha; first chairman Justice Sultan Hossain Khan.
- 4
In 2026 the ACC chairman is Justice A K M Asaduzzaman (since 19 August 2026).
- 5
In 2026 the Attorney General is Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kazal (the 18th).