Mohammad Abu Sayeed, Deputy Chief Revenue Officer of Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Dhaka WASA), has faced allegations of irregularities, corruption and the accumulation of substantial wealth by allegedly exploiting his political connections during the tenure of the ousted Awami League government. The allegations against him include collecting regular payments from subordinate officials, irregularities in postings and transfers, concealing assets, and transferring money abroad. However, these allegations have not been independently verified.
According to the complaint, several members of Abu Sayeed’s family were involved in Awami League politics. His elder sister, Nurjahan Majumder, reportedly served as vice-chairperson of Muradnagar Upazila Parishad in Cumilla and president of the upazila unit of the Awami Mohila League. His younger sister was reportedly a vice-president of the Dhaka North City unit of the Awami Mohila League, while his elder brother served as a vice-president of the Cumilla North unit of the Jatiya Sramik League. His father was also reportedly a vice-president of the Awami League unit in their local union. The complaint further claims that Awami League Presidium Member Bahaunddin Nasim is his maternal uncle-in-law. The complainants allege that these political connections helped him exert influence within the organisation.
Allegations of a Syndicate and Regular Payments in the Revenue Division
According to a complaint submitted to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Abu Sayeed allegedly established a network of irregular practices within Dhaka WASA’s revenue division. He has been accused of regularly collecting money from revenue inspectors under his supervision and forwarding a portion of the proceeds to SM Mostafa Kamal Majumder, who served as the organisation’s chief revenue officer at the time.
The complaint alleges that money collected from different WASA zones was distributed among members of the network. It further claims that appropriate departmental action was not taken despite allegations against him, allegedly because of his political connections. There are also claims that the ACC inquiry remained stalled for an extended period. The current status of the investigation and the positions of the officials concerned, however, need to be established.
Questions Over the Sources of His Wealth
Questions have also been raised about assets allegedly held by Abu Sayeed and members of his family. The complaint refers to a seven-storey building at House No. 39, Road No. 2, Block L, Aftabnagar, in Dhaka, two vehicles, and land and a bungalow in Cumilla. It also alleges that family members hold fixed deposits worth crores of taka in various bank accounts.
The complainants have called for an examination of whether the value of these assets is consistent with his known lawful sources of income. They further allege that some assets were registered in the names of his wife and children. However, the ownership, acquisition dates, funding sources and relevant banking records must be verified before any conclusions can be drawn.
Allegations of Large-Scale Embezzlement and Overseas Money Transfers
A document reportedly under consideration at the ACC headquarters has been cited in connection with allegations of large-scale financial irregularities involving Dhaka WASA’s development and revenue activities. The allegations include the alleged falsification of memorandum numbers and irregularities involving official postings, reportedly resulting in the acquisition of substantial sums of money.
The complaint refers to document No. 00.01.0000.501.01.014.22 and inquiry report No. 62/2022, identifying Assistant Director Mohammad Nur Alam Siddiqui as the investigating officer.
The allegations also include transferring illicit funds abroad and preparing to leave the country. However, these claims cannot be treated as established facts without corroborating financial records, official findings or confirmation from the relevant authorities.
New Posting Sparks Discontent
According to the information provided, Abu Sayeed was posted as Deputy Chief Revenue Officer in Administration Division-I of Dhaka WASA on October 12, 2026. The appointment has reportedly caused dissatisfaction among some officers and employees of the organisation.
Calls have been made for an impartial investigation into the allegations, verification of the sources of his assets, and greater transparency in the posting process.
Statements from the authorities concerned, an update on the ACC inquiry, and an opportunity for Abu Sayeed to respond to the allegations would help establish the facts. Ensuring accountability if the allegations are substantiated, while protecting the reputation of the accused if they are not, remains essential to the pursuit of justice.