The High Court on Sunday rejected a writ petition that was filed challenging the legality of the process for reappointing engineer Taqsem A Khan to the post of managing director of Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa).
The High Court bench of Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Md Khairul Alam passed the rejection order saying that the petition was not placed properly.
Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kazal and Advocate Md Tanvir Ahmed took part in the hearing on behalf of the writ petitioner.
Later, Md Tanvir Ahmed said that they prayed to the HC bench to reject the petition considering that it was not presented before the bench as it was not convincing for issuing any rule over the government decision.
The writ petition was filed on September 24 this year with the High Court challenging the legality of the process for reappointing engineer Taqsem A Khan to the post of managing director of Dhaka Wasa.
Engineer Khandker Manjur Morshed, a resident of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), submitted the petition praying to the HC to stay the proposal for extending the tenure of Taqsem A Khan as Wasa MD for three more years.
Meanwhile, the government on October 01 this year approved the proposal for reappointing engineer Taqsem A Khan to the post of managing director of Dhaka Wasa.
Then the writ petitioner filed another supplementary petition with the main petition. The court then held hearing on both the petitions and fixed Sunday for passing order on them.
The petitioner prayed to the court to issue a rule upon the respondents to explain as to why the decision taken by Dhaka Wasa board on September 19 this year so far as relates the proposal for reappointing engineer Taqsem A Khan as managing director of Dhaka Wasa sent to the ministry of local government should not be declared illegal.
He also prayed to the court to stay the effectiveness of the decision taken by Dhaka Wasa board on September 19 this year so far as relates the proposal for reappointing engineer Taqsem A Khan as managing director of Dhaka Wasa.
Citing the petition, Md Tanvir Ahmed told the reporters that Wasa's board meeting is supposed to be convened by its chairman or vice chairman to select its MD as per the Water Supply and Sewerage Authority Act 1996.
However, Wasa's board meeting was convened by its board secretary on September 17 to reappoint the MD and the meeting was held on September 19 in violation of the relevant provisions of the law.
He said his client in the petition has also prayed to the HC to issue a rule asking the board secretary of Dhaka Wasa to explain under what authority he convened the board meeting of Dhaka Wasa on September 17.
Dhaka Wasa board on September 19 approved a proposal for extending the tenure of their MD Taqsem by three more years. The Wasa board made the decision in its 97th special meeting held online.
Taqsem has been the MD of Dhaka Wasa for the last 11 years. He was appointed for six consecutive terms of varying lengths. His last term was expired on October 14 this year.
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