Dhaka WASA bills through DBBL Debit and Credit Card Agreement between Dhaka WASA and DBBL signed

Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (DWASA) signed an agreement with Dutch-Bangla Bank Limited (DBBL) on 9 October 2013 to facilitate its consumers for paying their water and sewerage bills online through DBBL debit or credit cards. Consumers of Dhaka WASA, from now on, will be able to pay the monthly bills online through the Nexus Gateway of DBBL staying at home. Managing Director of Dhaka WASA Engr. Taqsem A Khan and Managing Director of DBBL Mr. K S Tabrez singed the agreement for their respective organisations at a ceremony held at a city hotel.

Architect Yeafesh Osman, State Minister for the Ministry of Science and Technology was present at the ceremony as Chief Guest while Additional Secretary of the Local Government Division of the Ministry of LGRD&C Ms. Zuena Aziz and Chairman of DBBL Board of Directors Mr. Sayem Ahmed were present as the Special Guests. DBBL Managing Director Mr. K S Tabrez delivered the welcome speech while DWASA Managing Director Engr. Taqsem A Khan chaired the ceremony. The Chief Guest Architect Yeafesh Osman lauding the initiative said, with the leadership of the Prime Minister Shiekh Hasina the country is moving ahead to be digitized and DWASA is introducing the modern technology for its consumers in line with that vision for digital Bangladesh. Launchig of this `e-Payment of WASA bill through DBBL Nexus Gateway’ will reduce the hassle of the customers, he added. Engr. Taqsem A Khan, Managing Director of Dhaka WASA said, with the slogan `Digital WASA, Green WASA’ the present management of Dhaka WASA is working out to change the typical mindset of its employees that `customers are our masters, we are the servants.’ For the sake of the consumers DWASA is moving towards a paperless online service by turns. He also said that DWASA had fully automated the issuance of water bills which benefited its customers a lot. Engr. Taqsem A Khan said that, for the first time of its history Dhaka WASA is now able to produce surplus water in the capital. For environment reason Dhaka WASA is gradually switching towards surface water production instead of ground water extraction, he added. Mr. Khan also mentioned that two projects have been approved at the ECNEC this week to produce water from the river Padma and the Meghna for Dhaka city. The 500 million liter water project of Meghna and the 450 million liter water project of Padma will be implemented by 2018, Engr. Khan added. It may be mentioned that the recovery of WASA bills is now 95%. Through close monitoring and effective initiatives Dhaka WASA has incresed the revenue income at 850 crore taka during the 2012-2013 finnancial year which was 350 crore taka in 2009. Among others, Additional Secretary Ms. Zuena Aziz and Chairman of DBBL Board of Directors Mr. Sayem Ahmed also spoke on the occasion. High Government Officials and the Senior Officials of Dhaka WASA and DBBL also attended.