The Parliament on Wednesday passed the “Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2026”, granting the government sweeping powers to appoint and remove top officials and dissolve boards of water and sewerage authorities under ‘special circumstances’ without prior notice.
The bill was introduced and moved by State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development, and Co-operatives Mir Shahe Alam in the absence of the minister.
It seeks to amend the Water Supply and Sewerage Authority Act, 1996, by introducing provisions that allow the government to bypass existing administrative procedures in public interest.
According to the bill, the amendments are necessary to address stagnation in service delivery following the political changes of August 2024. The legislation covers five WASAs in the country, located in Dhaka, Chattogram, Khulna, Rajshahi and Sylhet, which are responsible for safe water supply and sewage management in metropolitan areas.
Three key sections in the bill aim to ensure administrative continuity and accountability. Section 28A empowers the government to remove or appoint the Managing Director of any WASA without cause if deemed essential for public interest during special situations. Section 30A extends similar authority over all officers and employees of the authorities.
Section 42A allows the government to dissolve the Board of Directors of any WASA and appoint a committee of members to perform all functions and exercise the powers of the board.
The bill also declares that the Act shall be considered effective from 24 October 2024. This retroactive provision validates actions taken under the Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Amendment) Ordinance, 2024, which was promulgated to manage emergency administrative situations after the fall of the previous regime.
Mir Shahe Alam told the House that since their establishment, WASAs have been striving to provide safe drinking water and maintain proper sewage systems for the citizens of the metropolis.
However, following the political changes of 5 August 2024, the absence of Managing Directors, elected chairmen and board members in several WASAs led to service disruptions, halting public services in many areas.
“The amendments are intended to maintain administrative functions and continue essential public services in the special circumstances that have arisen,” the State Minister said.
He added that the government may appoint a committee of suitable members to assist any authority in performing its duties whenever necessary.
The legislation aims to ensure that the administrative machinery of WASAs continues to operate efficiently, safeguarding uninterrupted water supply and sewage services for urban populations.
