Chittagong WASA MD AKM Fazlullah has not had to leave the post after being appointed in the first round in 2009. He was very close to the Awami League government, due to which he was repeatedly given the charge of Chittagong WASA MD. Dhaka Wasa MD resigned after the head of government resigned and left the country on August 5. But Chittagong WASA MDK did not resign despite the allegations of irregularities, corruption and nepotism. Rumors that the government is canceling his contract have yet to materialize. Some say that the management power of the former government is still working in Fazlullah’s case.

82 year old Chittagong WASA MD Engineer AKM Fazlullah was born in 1942. He was dismissed for dereliction of duty when he was the executive engineer of Chittagong WASA. He retired from the post of Superintending Engineer of Chittagong WASA in 1998. Later he became the Chairman of an organization called Social Savings & Co Operative Credit Limited. He was also arrested twice during 1/11 for embezzling crores of rupees from ordinary customers. At that time he was in jail. After the Awami League government assumed power in July 2009, he became the chairman of WASA under the party quota. Later, after the formation of Chittagong WASA Board, the post of managing director was empowered instead of the post of chairman. Therefore, Fazlullah left the post of chairman and took the post of managing director. Since then, he has remained in office for 15 years, extending his term eight times. He has built a huge kingdom of irregularities and corruption. During his tenure five major projects were undertaken to develop water supply and sewage system. None of these projects were completed within the stipulated period. Three have to increase the cost. The water crisis in the city has not ended. Instead, the price of water has been increased at least 12 times.

This officer of Chittagong WASA said on condition of anonymity, it is good to get the management of MD sir. He can manage everyone. Where the heads of other organizations are afraid to do office, MD sir is doing office despite so many complaints. He seems to have managed everything as before.

In the last 15 years, about 30 thousand crores of development work has been done under Chittagong WASA. Five major projects have been implemented. He has given jobs to more than a dozen of his relatives. Even Suarez project consultant has been appointed to his daughter Sumaiya bint Fazlullah’s company. Although on paper the contractors of the projects under implementation and completed are foreign companies, the powerful leaders of Awami League take over the work as sub-contractors. Money was laundered through sharing with the leaders. The cost of the project has also been increased by delay.
Vice President of Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) Central Committee SM Nazer Hossain said, Chittagong Wasa Fazlullah is the godfather of corruption. There is no end to the accusations against him. Awami League as a trusted person of the government has increased the price of water 12 times after occupying the post of WASA for 15 years. Formed the board with people of his choice. Embezzlement of project money from recruitment of manpower did not exclude anything. Even though there was a case in ACC, he could not be arrested. He cheated by telling stories of development. Despite reforms in various organizations, Chittagong WASA MD is still in place. He needs to be tried in Chittagong.

President of Chittagong Wasa Employees Union. Nurul Islam said, the government has said, ‘all contractual appointments are cancelled’. But it seems Chittagong WASA is exempt from it. MD Fazlullah has committed irregularities and corruption. He keeps accounts in the relevant departments including the ministry. It seems to still be in that reckoning.

Wasser MD dominated and broke the seniority and assigned the project director and executive engineer to the selected officials. Starting from his nieces and nephews, he gave work to his relatives as jobs and contractors. Even after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 5, many people were illegally given current duties and additional duties by breaking the organizational structure. There are rumors that Fazlullah, an American green card holder engineer, can escape at any time. He has already taken all the permission to leave the country.

When asked about this, Chittagong WASA MD AKM Fazlullah said, “If I had left Chittagong city, I would have left long ago.” I have balls in my mind. I didn’t do anything wrong. Holding Chittagong city. I am bringing projects that no one else has done. Why should I run away?

In response to a question, he said, now everyone is coming with demands. There is nothing wrong with that. Additional responsibilities are assigned to current responsibilities. What to do in front of the claim? What can be given, give what is not lost. Earlier we thought of promoting everyone together. But that didn’t happen. Now he wants to take the current responsibility, I gave him.

Meanwhile, Chittagong WASA Board meeting has been convened at a time when the reform work is going on in various organizations after the change of government. The meeting was convened on the online platform Zoom tomorrow Tuesday. The meeting was convened in a notice signed by WASA Secretary Shahida Fatema Chowdhury on August 18. In such a situation, the convening of the board meeting gave rise to a heated debate. WASA MD Fazlullah said that the board meeting was postponed yesterday in the face of controversy.

Business Bangladesh/MF