Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Bengali: ঢাকা ওয়াসা) is a Bangladesh government agency under the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives responsible for water and sewage disposal in Dhaka and Narayanganj.[1] Fazlur Rahman is the Managing Director since September 19th 2024. [2]

Dhaka WASA
ঢাকা পানি সরবরাহ ও পয়ঃনিষ্কাশন কর্তৃপক্ষ
Seal of Dhaka WASA
Agency overview
Formed1963; 61 years ago (1963)
JurisdictionGovernment of Bangladesh
HeadquartersWasa Bhavan, 98 Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue, Kawran Bazar, Dhaka
Agency executive
Parent departmentMinistry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives
Parent agencyWater Supply and Sewerage Authority
Websitedwasa.org.bd

History

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Dhaka WASA was established in 1963 as an independent agency with the responsibility to supply water and sewage disposal to Dhaka. It also became responsible of water and sewage Narayanganj in 1990. In 1996, it became an autonomous for-profit body with the passage of WASA Act.[3] On 16 March 2019, Parliamentary Standing Committee on Estimate recommended that the government of Bangladesh split Dhaka WASA into two different bodies along North and South Dhaka.[4]

Criticism

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In a 2019, Transparency International Bangladesh reported that Dhaka WASA had what The Daily Star characterized as "rampant graft" and provided "poor service".[5] In four out of ten zones of WASA, it was supplying water contaminated with harmful bacteria.[6] According to a WASA report submitted to Bangladesh High Court, Dhaka WASA was supplying polluted water to 57 areas of Dhaka.[7] Moreover, appointment of Wasa Managing Director Taqsem A Khan has been appointed as the MD for sixth consecutive terms of varying lengths, which create huge controversy despite widespread allegations of failure to provide safe water and improve waterlogging.[8]

In October 2022, Dhaka WASA denied the allegations of corruption, asking for evidence.[9] The Managing Director, Taqsem A. Khan, had been sued on charges of embezzling money from the employees fund.[9] Anti Corruption Commission launched an investigation against Taqsem A. Khan.[10]

Board of directors

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Name Designation Represents Reference
Sujit Kumar Bala Chairman Consumers [11]
Md. Khairul Islam Director Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives [11]
Rehana Perven Director Ministry of Finance [11]
Imran Ahmed Director Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry [11]
Sabbir Ahmed Director The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh [11]
Director Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh [11]
HAM Zahirul Islam Khan (Z. I. Khan Panna) Director Bangladesh Bar Council [11]
Md. Dip Azad Director Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists [11]
Mostofa Jalal Mohiuddin Director Bangladesh Medical Association [11]
A. K. M. A. Hamid Director Institution of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh [11]
Kha. Ma. Mamun Rashid Shuvro Director Dhaka South City Corporation [11]
Shikha Chakrobrothy Director Dhaka North City Corporation [11]
Taqsem A Khan CEO and Managing Director N/A [11]
Fazlur Rahman CEO and Managing Director Independent [2]

References

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  1. ^ "Unclean Water: N'ganj Wasa officials get an earful from locals". The Daily Star. 3 May 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  2. ^ a b Report, Star Digital (2024-09-19). "Fazlur Rahman appointed new Dhaka WASA MD". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
  3. ^ "About Dhaka Wasa". dwasa.org.bd. Archived from the original on 2 August 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  4. ^ "JS body recommends to split Dhaka Wasa into two". The Daily Star. 16 May 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  5. ^ "TIB survey on Dhaka Wasa: Rampant graft, poor service". The Daily Star. 18 April 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  6. ^ "Harmful bacteria in Wasa water". The Daily Star. 8 July 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  7. ^ "Dhaka Wasa says water supplied to 57 areas polluted". The Daily Star. 16 May 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  8. ^ "Wasa MD for 11 years and counting". Business Tribune. Retrieved 2022-10-13.
  9. ^ a b "Dhaka Wasa denies allegations of corruption, asks for evidence". Dhaka Tribune. 2022-10-29. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  10. ^ "Seven officials summoned in probe against Taqsem A Khan". Prothom Alo. 18 October 2022. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "ঢাকা ওয়াসা". dwasa.org.bd. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
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