Within 72 hours of BNP victory, Sromik Dal breaks locks and takes over Chattogram WASA

Staff Correspondent

Just 72 hours after the BNP won the national parliamentary elections, a lock-breaking incident occurred inside Chittagong WASA and a room was occupied.

On Sunday, February 15, at 2 pm, a group of workers entered the room demanding their organization’s office. Slogans were raised in the name of BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman at the scene and large stickers with his picture were put up on the glass-enclosed part of the room.

It is learned that 40 to 50 workers, led by Mamunur Rashid, president of an organization called ‘Chittagong WASA Nationalist Workers’ Workers’ Party’, broke the lock of a room in the new building and entered.

The organization claims that the previous managing director had verbally promised to provide the room. Based on that promise, they are entitled to the room.

A video captured after the occupation has been obtained by ‘BD Digest’. It shows a large sticker with Tarique Rahman’s picture pasted above the room. The sticker reads ‘Union Office, Chittagong WASA Jatiyatabadi Sramik Karmachar Dal’.

The organization’s president, Mamunur Rashid, said that during the previous MD’s tenure, an initiative was taken to provide a room in the new WASA building for CBA’s organizational activities with the current engineer as a witness. In that context, they are asking the current administration for the key to the room. Since they did not get the key, they have put up banners and pictures of Tarique Rahman outside the room.

He claimed that they were entitled to the room based on the promise of the previous MD.

Meanwhile, there are allegations that during the previous MD’s tenure, some employees, including Mamunur Rashid and former executive president Kamal Khan, illegally acquired wealth while holding the position of meter inspector.

It is learned that the Chittagong WASA Workers’ Union is divided into two. One organization has registration number 1687 and the other has registration number 2307. The Chittagong WASA Workers’ Union with registration number 2307 has now changed its name to ‘Chittagong WASA Nationalist Workers’ Workers’ Union’.

Ratan Kanti Das, former founding president of Chittagong WASA Sramik Union, registration number 1687, said that Chittagong WASA Sramik Union, registration number 2307, is an illegal organization. The High Court issued rules twice in 2004 and 2005, suspending the activities of the organization. The case is still ongoing.

Regarding the incident, Chittagong WASA Chief Revenue Officer Rumon Dey said that the DMD sent him to see the situation in the afternoon. He inspected the scene and submitted a report. However, he did not agree to share the contents of the report.