Staff Reporter:
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has condemned the removal of former Dhaka Wasa chair-man Golam Mostafa, who had filed a written complaint against the organization’s Managing Director Taqsem A Khan last week.
Professor Sujit Kumar Bala has been appointed as the new chairman of the Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa) Board.
“By removing the board chairman who had alleged irregularities, corruption, and arbitrariness on the part of the managing director, Dhaka WASA has set a worrying example of shielding the accused,” TIB said in a press release on Tuesday.
“This is in complete conflict with the government’s declaration of zero tolerance for corruption from the top echelons of the government, as well as the legal obligation to protect those who report abuse of pow-er and corruption,” it said.
TIB has called for ensuring accountability of the accused – subjecting to a fair and transparent investiga-tion – considering the allegations of the former chairman.
TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said: “The newly removed chairman of Wasa has remained in his post even after his tenure ended in October last year. A new chairman has not been appointed even after so long. However, the new chairman was appointed just five days after the chairman of the board submitted a written complaint to the ministry against the Wasa MD.”
Although the LGED secretary has said the appointment of a new chairman is nothing but a coincidence, the anti-graft watchdog has said the decision has set a worrying example of ‘Shoot the Messenger’ prac-tice.
