HC rejects writ challenging reappointment of Taqsem as DWASA MD

The High Court on Sunday rejected a writ petition that challenged the recommendation of Dhaka WASA board to reappoint engineer Taqsem A Khan as its managing director (MD) for the next three years after hearing over the matter.

Earlier on Wednesday, the HC bench set today (October 18) to pass an order on the writ filed against Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority’s (DWASA) decision to reappoint the current MD.

The HC bench of Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Md Khairul Alam passed the order.

Advocate Tanvir Ahmed stood for the writ petition while deputy attorney general Nur-us Sadiq took part in the hearing on behalf of the state.

On behalf of the former additional chief engineer of the Bangladesh Water Development Board Khandaker Manzur Murshid, advocate Tanvir filed the petition on September 24.

Earlier on September 19, the Dhaka WASA board recommended the appointment of Taqsem as its MD for three more years.

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), in a statement on September 20, strongly condemned the proposal to reappoint the incumbent Dhaka WASA MD.

Terming the reappointment 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 various reports of serious irregularities and corruption in the top position, the questionable appointment and repeated reappointment 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.

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 pointed out in the statement.

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 noted.

"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.

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