Gazi Salauddin Tanvir, joint member secretary of National Citizen Party (NCP), has denied allegations of embezzling Tk 400 crore, calling them “baseless and exaggerated.”

Speaking at a press conference at Court Reporters’ Unity (CRU) office in Dhaka, he stated, ”The procurement process was transparent and conducted as per official protocols. Claims of Tk 400 crore corruptions are completely fabricated.”

Tanvir clarified that Tk 100 crore was spent on paper procurement for textbooks under National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB), not Tk 400 crore as alleged.

He claimed that previous administrations imported low-quality textbooks from foreign sources, but under the interim government, efforts were made to ensure high-quality local printing.

He alleged that vested interest groups, threatened by reforms, orchestrated the accusations. “The NCP was not even formed when these alleged transactions took place,” he added.

Tanvir further announced that he has filed a defamation lawsuit worth Tk 400 crore against Dhaka Post and its editor, Mohiuddin Sarker, for publishing what he termed as “false and defamatory news”.

TheDhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Court has recorded his statement and scheduled a ruling on Sunday.

He asserted, ”If even a single penny of corruption is proven against me, I will resign from NCP and accept legal consequences.”