Loading...

TIB condemns ‘unlawful’ proposal to re-appoint current Dhaka WASA MD

| Updated: September 20, 2020 10:10:44


TIB condemns ‘unlawful’ proposal to re-appoint current Dhaka WASA MD

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has strongly condemned the proposal to re-appoint the incumbent Dhaka WASA managing director (MD).

The civil society organisation, in a statement, said Dhaka WASA Board is scheduled to hold a meeting on Saturday with the proposal to re-appoint the current MD.

Terming the re-appointment of Dhaka Water Supply & Sewerage Authority (WASA) MD as unethical and unlawful, TIB insisted that it was clear from the agenda of the meeting that all measures have been taken to keep the long-cherished hegemony of the same person unchanged in the top management of Dhaka WASA ignoring the law and regulations.

Despite reports of serious irregularities and corruption in the top position, the questionable appointment and repeated re-appointment to the post has turned the state's commitment to good governance in the country into a farce, said the Bangladesh branch of Berlin-based anti-corruption watchdog.

In the statement, TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said “According to media and reliable direct sources, a special meeting of the Dhaka WASA Board has only mentioned the name of the current managing director and finalised the recommendation of his re-appointment for another three-year term”.

Terming the re-appointment of the MD post as unlawful and illegal, Dr Zaman also questioned that “Whether the application for the post was called as per rules, who applied, why they were not considered eligible, why the current managing director is the only suitable candidate for the post and why it is necessary to renew the term to the same person in defiance of the relevant rules”.

“Nothing has been mentioned of what has been done or not to this end. On the other hand, the sufferings and hardship of the city people during the tenure of the present managing director is not unknown to anyone”, he mentioned.

Allegations of unprecedented spread of various types of irregularities and corruption in the implementation and service level of many small and large WASA projects have been raised in TIB's research and reliable sources and some of its issues are under investigation, the TIB Executive Director points out.

Dr Iftekharuzzaman said, “After the controversial appointment of the current managing director of Dhaka WASA in 2009, he has been in charge since 11 years for five consecutive terms in a questionable process.”

According to media reports and other reliable sources, every time there was some violation of law and order in his renewal of his appointment, he insists.

Even after his first appointment, documentary instructions were issued by the concerned ministry to take precaution in the next appointment on the allegation of the irregularities, Dr Zaman added.

[email protected]

Share if you like

Filter By Topic