ACC prosecutes former MD Taqsem, nine others over illegal recruitment at WASA

The graft watchdog accuses them of embezzling funds through unlawful appointments

The Anti-Corruption Commission, or ACC, has prosecuted former Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority, or WASA, managing director Taqsem A Khan and nine others on charges of aiding financial embezzlement through unauthorised staff appointments.

ACC Deputy Director Syed Nazrul Islam filed the case on Wednesday at the commission's Integrated District Office in Dhaka, according to its Director General (Prevention) Md Akhtar Hossain.

The case involves allegations of recruiting two directors—Director (Development) Md Abul Kashem and Director (Technical) AKM Shahid Uddin—on a contractual basis despite the positions not being part of WASA’s approved organisational structure.

This allegedly facilitated the embezzlement of Tk 19.86 million in salaries and allowances from government funds from April 2018 to August 2022.

An investigation report recommending the filing of the case was submitted to the commission in April 2023, but no progress was made at the time.

The appointments were approved at WASA's 252nd board meeting, chaired by then-chairman Md Habibur Rahman.

Other board members included Taqsem, former additional secretary Sudhangshu Shekhar Biswas, FCA Vice President Md Mahmud Hossain, Bangladesh Engineers Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh representative Engineer Md Nuruzzaman, Institution of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh President AKMA Hamid, former Dhaka North City Corporation councillor Aleya Sarwar Daisy, and former Dhaka South City Corporation councillor Md Hasibur Rahman Manik.

All have been named as defendants in the case.

ACC Director General Akhtar Hossain said, "The board members primarily endorsed the illegal appointments."