Crore-Taka Bargaining Over WASA MD Post, Public Interest in Grave Threat

❐ Special Correspondent

Sensational allegations have been made surrounding Dhaka WASA, one of the country’s strategic institutions. A multi-crore bidding war is underway for the appointment of the highest position, the Managing Director or MD, of this organization, which is directly involved in the lives of crores of people every day.

It has been alleged that the current chief engineer of WASA, Abdus Salam Bepari, has offered Tk 100 crore to the local government advisor’s close circle in the hope of getting the MD position. On the other hand, additional chief engineer Shawkat Mahmud has allegedly offered up to Tk 150 crore in return.

Another source said that Mustafizur Rahman, the recently retired chief engineer of WASA, has gone a step further and offered Tk 165 crore to become the MD on a contractual basis. He is also accused of using the name of local government advisor Asif Mahmud to exert influence within WASA.

This has raised questions in the public mind, is the highest position in a state-owned company now up for auction? Will the opportunity to sit in the MD’s chair go to the highest bidder?

The reason behind this unusual competition surrounding the post of WASA MD is also clear. With a daily revenue flow of thousands of crores of taka, commission syndicate for project approval and implementation, control of foreign loans and opportunities for contract distribution – all of this has made this post a gold mine for corrupt circles. As a result, officials are not hesitating to pour in crores of taka.

But it is having a serious impact on the common people. The people of Dhaka are already suffering from dirty water, water shortages and inefficient management. If this is added to the crore-taka business, WASA’s future will be even darker. If officials become MDs after spending crores of taka, their main goal will be to get back the money they invested – as a result, the public interest will lag even further behind.

Setting up a “bargaining market” in a strategic state institution is a gross affront to administrative principles and democratic values. The concerned authorities should immediately conduct strict surveillance and find out the source of these funds. At the same time, it is the demand of the hour to ensure transparency and accountability in the recruitment process in important institutions like WASA.