Staff Reporter :
Engineer Taqsem A Khan’s tenure as the managing director of Dhaka Wasa has been extended for the next three years, said additional secretary Mohammad Ibrahim of the Local Government Division on Thursday.
He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has approved the file for reappointment of Taqsem A Khan for another three years following the recommendation of board of Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa).
Mohammad Ibrahim said, “Prime Minister has given approval of reappointing Taqsem A Khan as the Dhaka Wasa MD for another three years. We have already informed the Wasa Board. Dhaka Wasa is a commercial corporate body. Process for approval has completed. The Local Government Division will not issue any order. Now, the Dhaka Wasa Board will sign a deal with Taqsem A Khan.”
On September 19, the Dhaka Wasa Board sent a recommendation to the Local Government Division for approval of the reappointment of Taqsem A Khan for another three years. Later, the Local Government Division sent the file of Taqsem A Khan with the recommendation to the Prime Minister’s office for her approval.
On September 24, Engineer Khandker Monjur Morshed, former additional chief engineer of Bangladesh Water Development Board, submitted a writ petition with the High Court challenging the legality of the process for further appointing Taqsem A Khan as the managing director of Dhaka Wasa.
On September 30, a High Court bench comprising Justice JBM Hasan and Justice Md Khairul Alam, adjourned the hearing of the writ for one week.
The High Court bench also observed that the writ petition was ‘premature’ as the government was yet to approve the recommendation for Taqsem’s reappointment.
Lawyers Ruhul Quddus Kazal and Tanvir Ahmed appeared on behalf of the petitioner, while Deputy Attorney General Noor-us- Sadik opposed the writ petition stating that Dhaka WASA recommended his extension in accordance with law.
Taqsem A Khan was appointed managing director of Dhaka Wasa in 2009 and subsequently reappointed five times, despite allegations of corruption against him.
