Nearly two years after the consultant selection process began, Chattogram WASA's flagship Tk 5,152 crore JICA-backed sewerage development project remains mired in delays, raising serious concerns over governance, project management and the future of one of the city's most critical infrastructure initiatives.
The prolonged impasse has already carried a heavy price. Around Tk 760 crore earmarked for the project has reportedly been returned to the government treasury amid complications over land acquisition, deepening uncertainty over the long-awaited sewerage treatment plant designed to transform sanitation, public health and environmental management in Bangladesh's commercial capital.
The consultant recruitment process for the "Chattogram Sewerage System Development Project (Catchment-2 and 4)", financed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), was initiated through an Expression of Interest (EOI) on 29 July 2024. Yet, despite the strategic importance of the project, the procurement process has still not reached its final stage.
The scheme is widely regarded as a cornerstone of Chattogram's urban future, with direct implications for public health, environmental protection, waterlogging mitigation and sustainable city management. The extended delay has therefore intensified scrutiny over administrative efficiency, procurement transparency and institutional accountability.
Officials and sources familiar with the matter said the evaluation process has remained stalled for an unusually long period, severely affecting overall implementation. They noted that consultant appointments in internationally funded infrastructure projects rarely take such an extended period, prompting questions over whether established Request for Proposal (RFP) procedures and clarification rules have been fully observed.
Project insiders stressed that appointing a consultant is pivotal to preparing engineering designs, providing technical supervision, finalising implementation strategies and unlocking subsequent phases of work. The delay, they warned, is no longer a routine administrative matter but a significant obstacle that could disrupt project execution, delay fund utilisation and postpone the delivery of modern sewerage services to millions of residents.
Adding to the controversy, some prospective participants have alleged that the deadlock is linked to one official simultaneously serving as project director for two major schemes. Several stakeholders have also questioned whether Chattogram WASA's current administrative and engineering leadership possesses sufficient capacity to oversee such a complex undertaking effectively.
When contacted, Project Director Mohammad Nurul Amin declined to comment on the consultant appointment delays. Asked whether managing two projects concurrently posed challenges, he replied only: "The authority has assigned me the responsibility."
Rejecting suggestions of complications, Chattogram WASA Managing Director Engineer Selim Mohammad Jane Alam said the process was progressing under the supervision of the designated evaluation committee.
"The evaluation is being carried out by the designated board, and work is moving accordingly. The process took time because of various administrative and procedural matters involving multiple stakeholders, but we are now accelerating the work," he told The Daily Observer.
Md Salim Reza, another senior official overseeing the initiative, expressed optimism that the stalemate would soon be resolved.
"I have instructed the concerned officials to conduct evaluation meetings physically rather than online so that all documents can be thoroughly examined and the process completed without further delay," he said, adding: "Although I cannot provide a specific timeline, I remain hopeful that the consultant appointment will be finalised soon."
Infrastructure experts warn that prolonged delays at the consultant selection stage can derail entire project timelines, inflate costs and complicate the release of development funds. They argue that critical public-interest projects must adhere to reasonable procurement schedules to safeguard transparency, efficiency and value for money.
For the people of Chattogram, who have waited decades for a modern sewerage network to tackle chronic sanitation challenges and recurrent waterlogging, the latest setback is deeply frustrating. With almost two years already lost before consultancy work has even begun, concerns are mounting over whether the ambitious mega-project can still be delivered on time and within budget.
