Anti- graft watch dog Transparency International, Bangladesh (TIB) has strongly condemned the proposal to re-appoint the current managing director in an unethical and unconstitutional manner.
In a press release on Saturday (September 19), the agency said that it was clear from the agenda of the meeting that all measures had been taken to keep the long-cherished monopoly hegemony unchanged by continuing the same person's unethical and illegitimate tenure at the top management of Dhaka WASA. Despite all the serious allegations of failure and irregularities, the questionable appointment and continued re-appointment to the post has turned the state's commitment to good governance in the country into a farce.
TIB executive director(ED) Dr. Iftekharuzzaman said that according to media and reliable direct sources, the special meeting of the Dhaka WASA Board had only mentioned the name of the current managing director and asked him to finalize the recommendation for re-appointment for another three-year term. Whether the application for the post was called as per the rules, who applied, why they were not considered eligible, or why the current managing director is the only suitable candidate, why it is necessary to renew the term to the same person in violation of the relevant rules. There is no mention of what has been done or not. On the other hand, the suffering of the people during the tenure of the present managing director is not unknown to anyone.
He said allegations of unprecedented spread of various types of irregularities and corruption in the implementation of WASA projects and services have been raised in all relevant and reliable sources of TIB research and some of its issues are under investigation. We hoped that a solution would be found where the head of government has repeatedly spoken of 'zero tolerance' against corruption and the establishment of good governance by implementing a national integrity strategy. But the way things are going, we can no longer talk about frustration. We are now ashamed to talk about the possibility of integrity or good governance in WASA and we express our deep concern over the corruption and protectionist practices of this organization and call on the ministry and higher authorities to avoid this path.
Dr. Zaman said that after the controversial appointment of the current managing director of Dhaka WASA in 2009, he has been serving for 11 consecutive years in five consecutive terms in a questionable process. According to media reports and other reliable sources, every time he has renewed his appointment, there has been some violation of law and order. Even at the time of the first appointment, documentary instructions were issued by the concerned ministry to take precaution in the next appointment on the allegation of irregularities. Even then, sometimes raising the age limit, sometimes bypassing the recommendations of the recent meeting of the board and using the old meeting's limitation recommendation, even in the connivance of influential quarters without even bothering to take the board's opinion. This is not only a clear violation of the law, but also an example of the shameless institutionalization of a culture of abuse of power and collusion.
Expressing fear of a repeatations of the same incident, the ED of TIB demanded that a new managing director with qualifications and experience in the relevant sector should be appointed in a transparent manner before the last extended term of the current managing director expires on October 14. At the same time, a complete impartial evaluation of the questionable appointment and continued re-appointment of the current managing director for the welfare of the organization and its beneficiaries must be completed. At the same time, accountability of irregularities and corruption should be ensured by proper investigation of assets inconsistent with the legitimate income of all levels of WASA officials and employees.
He said it was certain that the Dhaka WASA Board was not fulfilling its responsibilities properly, or was not being allowed to do so. We also demand that the process of removal of the Dhaka WASA Board be completed due to its inability to prevent corruption by ensuring good governance, especially transparency and accountability.