11 Ctg Wasa staff suspended

Eleven officials and employees of Chittagong Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa) have been suspended on charges of corruption and irregularities.

The suspended staff are: Ashique Mahmud Choudhury, an assistant engineer, Shahidul Islam, a sub-assistant engineer, Abdur Rahim, an overseer, drivers -- Altaf Ali, Abdur Rab, Md Shahjamal and Amanat Khan and helpers --Md Anwar Hossain, Jahangir Hossain, Md Yusuf and Md Shahadat.

The suspension orders came after they were found guilty of misappropriating Tk 10 lakh of Wasa after selling water, a high official of its revenue department told our Chittagong correspondent.

AKM Fazlul Haque, managing director of Chittagong Wasa, said the authorities suspended the employees Thursday night after getting a report from the committee formed to investigate their alleged irregularities.

Further investigations will be carried out in this regard, the MD said adding, “If they found guilty, we will take proper action.”

Meanwhile, the CBA (Collective Bargaining Agent) leaders and activists laid siege to the office of the MD for four hours since 8:00am, protesting the suspension of the overseer, drivers and helpers.

They alleged that the authorities suspend the employees without any prior notice.  The CBA leaders and activists threatened with tougher agitation programme if the authorities do not withdrew the suspension orders in seven days.

The committee launched the probe against them between April to December this year.

The Chittagong wasa has total 14 vehicles to carry sold water. It sold 100 vehicles of water per day, sources said.