The High Court on Sunday suspended for a month an order of Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA) on demotion of its Executive Engineer Md Mozammel Haque on charge of providing information to the media.

A special bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim passed the order during a hearing on a writ petition filed by Barrister SS Arefin Junnun.

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Mozammel received the demotion order through a letter signed by Managing Director of Dhaka WASA Taqsem A Khan on July 4. He challenged the demotion in a petition filed before the High Court.

His lawyer Arefin argued that as the managing director is currently on a leave he can’t sign any official letter.

In 2017, three national dailies published reports on Dhaka city’s drainage system, canals and water logging during the months of July and August including comments from Mozammel, who was at that time responsible for Dhaka’s drainage circle.

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Later authorities formed a probe committee in this regard, claiming Mozammel’s  comments have tarnished the image of Dhaka WASA.

On December 21, 2020, Investigative officer Administrative engineer Ruhul Amin submitted the probe report finding engineer Mozameel guilty.

On January 8 this year secretary of WASA issued a show cause notice to Mozammel  saying that it goes against the job regulations-2010 of WASA if any official talk to the media on the activity of the organisation.  

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The notice reminded Mozammel that his comments have undermined the authority’s image and it is considered as misconduct and punishable crime.

Mozammel’s reply to the notice was considered unsatisfactory to the authority and a divisional case was filed against him, followed by the demotion order.