CWasa MD’s Graft: HC asks ACC what steps were taken

The High Court yesterday wanted to know what step has been taken against Chattogram Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa) Managing Director (MD) AKM Fazlullah for his alleged corruption, irregularities and nepotism at his office.

The court asked Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to submit a report regarding this issue in a month, describing the steps taken.

The HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman came up with the order while hearing a writ petition, which sought directives on ACC to take appropriate actions against the MD.

The bench also adjourned hearing on the petition for a month, petitioner's lawyer Md Ekram Uddin khan Chowdhury told The Daily Star.

Earlier in the day, ACC's lawyer Nawsher Ali Mollah told the bench that ACC has taken the allegations against Fazlullah seriously and initiated an inquiry into them.

If the commission (ACC) finds the allegations true, it will take appropriate action, he told the HC. Following hearing of the same petition, the HC on September 23 had asked the same question to ACC.

Md Hasan Ali, a subscriber of Chattogram Wasa, filed the petition with the HC on September 20, saying that he had earlier applied to ACC's Chattogram division office on September 7 for acting against Fazlullah, but ACC did not do so.

Md Ekram said the MD has allegedly been committing corruption, nepotism and irregularities by appointing workforce at his office through outsourcing.

He allegedly appointed three consultancy firms, where his daughter Sumaiyan Binte Fazlullah had worked earlier, to his office, and made huge money by way of such corruption, irregularities and nepotism, the lawyer said, adding that newspapers have published reports on these issues at different times.

Fazlullah has been in the post of MD of Chattogram Wasa for the last 11 years, he said.