Khulna WASA issues showcause notices to 13 officials

KHULNA, Sept 29: Khulna Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA) has issued show-cause notices to 13 officials, including an executive engineer, over allegations of submitting duplicate bills for the same water connection under a project.

The irregularities surfaced during a review of final billing documents for the project titled “Laying and Installation of 5,000 NOS Connection Pipes and Fittings to Khulna WASA Consumers.”

In a notice signed by Khulna WASA Secretary Mahera Naznin on Sunday, the authority stated that the review revealed duplicate billing for the same connection, describing the act as undesirable and irregular.

Executive Engineer Md Rezaul Islam was notified that he demonstrated serious negligence and a lack of diligence in discharging his duties. He has been directed to submit a written explanation to the managing director within seven working days regarding why departmental action should not be taken against him under the Khulna Water Supply and Sewerage Authority Employees Service Regulations, 2014.

Rezaul confirmed that notices were also served to four assistant engineers, identified as Sardar Rafiqul Alam, Biplab Kumar Majumder, Ashikur Rahman, and Maruful Haque, along with eight sub-assistant engineers.
He defended his position, stating that sub-assistant and assistant engineers are responsible for entering and checking bills before forwarding them for his countersignature.

“There may have been checking errors in one or two bills under this project, but this is not a major mistake. I only countersigned the bills. Why is only my involvement being highlighted?” Rezaul said.
According to sources, the project was officially awarded to a contractor named Ashraf, but the work was executed by Aminul Islam Munna, a former councillor of Ward No. 15, an Awami League leader, and a former Khulna WASA director.

Sources added that Munna, close to former KCC Mayor Talukder Abdul Khaleque, secured several major contracts from WASA and the city corporation. He has faced prior allegations of submitting fraudulent bills and claiming payments twice for the same work, reportedly operating under another person’s contractor licence to evade authorities.

The project was implemented in 2024. Munna has reportedly been absconding since August 5, 2024.