Staff Reporter :
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Thursday informed the High Court that the anti-graft body had taken the corruption allegations against Chattogram Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA) Managing Director Engineer AKM Fazlullah into account for investigations. But the Anti-Corruption Commission did not specify as to what steps have been taken against Fazlullah accused of money laundering, recruitment trade and other irregularities.
During the hearing on a writ petition filed challenging the re-appointment process of AKM Fazlullah, the ACC lawyer gave such information to the court.
After hearing, the High Court bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman adjourned the case proceedings for one month.
Earlier on September 23 the High Court wanted to know whether any step has been taken against Chattogram WASA Managing Director AKM Fazlullah for his alleged involvement in corruption, irregularities and nepotism.
The court also asked the Anti-Corruption Commission to submit a report within a month describing what steps have been taken against Fazlullah over the allegations.
Md Hassan Ali, a subscriber of Chattogram WASA, filed the writ petition with the HC on September 20.
He had earlier submitted an application to the ACC’s Chattogram division office on September 7 to take action against AKM Fazlullah over his corruption, irregularities and nepotism, but the ACC did not take any action.
Advocate Md Ekram Uddin Khan Chowdhury took part in the hearing on behalf of the writ petitioner, while Advocate Md Nowsher Ali Mollah represented the ACC.
Advocate Ekram Uddin Khan said, “The ACC did not specify in written to the court what steps were taken against Fazlullah on allegations of money laundering, recruitment trade and other irregularities. But the ACC lawyer said that the anti-graft body had taken the corruption allegations against him seriously.”
Engineer AKM Fazlullah joined in the organization in 1968 as an assistant engineer. Later he went on retirement in 1998 after serving as an executive engineer of the organization for a full term.
The government appointed him as Chairman of Chattogram WASA on July 8, 2009 for one year by a notification. Later, when the Chattogram Wasa Board was formed, he became the managing director for three months in the first phase. After being re-appointed in five terms, he has been performing this duty for the last 9 years.
Fazlullah, 80, ended his last three-year term as Managing Director on October 31. However, before that, the board meeting on September 7 this year had recommended his appointment for another three years.
And the government has reappointed him in the same post for another three years on October 1 which decision came into the effect on November 1.
It has been alleged that engineer AKM Fazlullah has made the recommendation of his appointment by a loyal board to consolidate his power in the long run in the ongoing projects worth several thousand crores taka at Chattogram WASA. But the board claimed that they had recommended his name as they thought to keep an experienced person in the post to maintain the continuity of ongoing development work of the organization.
In the meantime, a resident of Chattogram, Md Hassan Ali, lodged complaint in the office of ACC in Chattogram demanding investigation into irregularities of money laundering, recruitment trade and others.
Mr Hassan Ali finally filed a writ petition with the High Court challenging the inaction of ACC in conducting investigation on the allegations and the recommendation for reappointing Fazlullah in the post.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Thursday informed the High Court that the anti-graft body had taken the corruption allegations against Chattogram Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA) Managing Director Engineer AKM Fazlullah into account for investigations. But the Anti-Corruption Commission did not specify as to what steps have been taken against Fazlullah accused of money laundering, recruitment trade and other irregularities.
During the hearing on a writ petition filed challenging the re-appointment process of AKM Fazlullah, the ACC lawyer gave such information to the court.
After hearing, the High Court bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman adjourned the case proceedings for one month.
Earlier on September 23 the High Court wanted to know whether any step has been taken against Chattogram WASA Managing Director AKM Fazlullah for his alleged involvement in corruption, irregularities and nepotism.
The court also asked the Anti-Corruption Commission to submit a report within a month describing what steps have been taken against Fazlullah over the allegations.
Md Hassan Ali, a subscriber of Chattogram WASA, filed the writ petition with the HC on September 20.
He had earlier submitted an application to the ACC’s Chattogram division office on September 7 to take action against AKM Fazlullah over his corruption, irregularities and nepotism, but the ACC did not take any action.
Advocate Md Ekram Uddin Khan Chowdhury took part in the hearing on behalf of the writ petitioner, while Advocate Md Nowsher Ali Mollah represented the ACC.
Advocate Ekram Uddin Khan said, “The ACC did not specify in written to the court what steps were taken against Fazlullah on allegations of money laundering, recruitment trade and other irregularities. But the ACC lawyer said that the anti-graft body had taken the corruption allegations against him seriously.”
Engineer AKM Fazlullah joined in the organization in 1968 as an assistant engineer. Later he went on retirement in 1998 after serving as an executive engineer of the organization for a full term.
The government appointed him as Chairman of Chattogram WASA on July 8, 2009 for one year by a notification. Later, when the Chattogram Wasa Board was formed, he became the managing director for three months in the first phase. After being re-appointed in five terms, he has been performing this duty for the last 9 years.
Fazlullah, 80, ended his last three-year term as Managing Director on October 31. However, before that, the board meeting on September 7 this year had recommended his appointment for another three years.
And the government has reappointed him in the same post for another three years on October 1 which decision came into the effect on November 1.
It has been alleged that engineer AKM Fazlullah has made the recommendation of his appointment by a loyal board to consolidate his power in the long run in the ongoing projects worth several thousand crores taka at Chattogram WASA. But the board claimed that they had recommended his name as they thought to keep an experienced person in the post to maintain the continuity of ongoing development work of the organization.
In the meantime, a resident of Chattogram, Md Hassan Ali, lodged complaint in the office of ACC in Chattogram demanding investigation into irregularities of money laundering, recruitment trade and others.
Mr Hassan Ali finally filed a writ petition with the High Court challenging the inaction of ACC in conducting investigation on the allegations and the recommendation for reappointing Fazlullah in the post.
