Pirojpur Sep 19, (V7N) - Widespread corruption, administrative inefficiency, and reckless mismanagement have led to a state of lawlessness in the Mathbaria Municipality of Pirojpur. Public services have been severely compromised, leaving residents without access to essential civic amenities. Despite repeated protests on social media, there has been no improvement in the municipality's environment, and citizens continue to suffer.

Investigations have revealed that although Mathbaria is classified as an "A-grade" municipality, the residents have seen no improvement in their quality of life. The municipality covers 4 square kilometers and has a population of nearly 50,000 people, yet mismanagement has become the norm. Many municipal officials and employees have held their positions for years, fostering a culture of corruption and irresponsibility. The chain of command has collapsed, with staff members disregarding authority and frequently engaging in internal disputes, raising concerns of potential unrest.

The municipal area is plagued with scattered garbage, clogged drains, and deteriorating roads. Illegal construction of homes and staircases on public paths and canals has exacerbated the situation. The drainage system is broken, street lighting is inadequate, and solar-powered streetlights and dustbins are placed randomly across the town. Floating vendors clog the streets, and irregular water supply is compounded by frequent power outages.

Reliable sources have reported that floating vendors are charged excessive fees, while large sums are demanded to approve building plans. Residents face endless difficulties in obtaining registrations, licenses, and citizenship certificates, further compounding the chaos. Despite multiple complaints, the municipality has failed to take any corrective action. Subrata Kumar Majumder, a license inspector, confirmed that the town has 1,900 licensed businesses, alongside many unregistered vendors.

Shamsul Hasan Khoka Mia, president of the Mathbaria Traders’ Association, reported that over 2,500 businesses operate in the town. Further inquiries reveal that bribes are often the quickest solution to problems, and employees—from the lowest staff members to higher officials—are preoccupied with securing personal gains.

The municipality has several revenue-generating avenues, including water bills, property taxes, market leases, public restroom leases, bus stand leases, land transfer fees, registration fees, building plan approval fees, and license fees. Despite these, the municipality remains financially strained due to alleged mismanagement. During the tenure of former mayor Rafiuddin Ahmed Ferdous, an artificial salary crisis was created, and employees have not been paid for 12 months, although this seems to be of little concern. Meanwhile, many employees have purchased land and built houses within the town.

The sluice gate on the town’s southern border has become non-functional due to illegal land allocations on either side, preventing proper water flow and damaging local agriculture. In protest, on September 16, 2024, frustrated residents demolished the sluice gate.

Municipal officials and employees have lodged complaints against each other. Many have accused Municipal Executive Officer Mohammad Harun-or-Rashid of creating divisions within the staff to serve his personal interests. They allege that Harun favors certain employees, providing them with preferential treatment, and that he controls all decisions within the municipality.

Harun, who has held his position since March 27, 2002, remains entrenched in his role. There is evidence that on June 6 and 7, 2024, he attended two different workshops in Dhaka and Barisal on the same dates. His wife, Mosammat Tahmina Begum, an assistant tax assessor, spends most of her time in Barisal, using her husband's influence to perform her duties with little accountability.

The municipality owns several vehicles, including a jeep, ambulance, trucks, road rollers, an excavator, and motorcycles, but many have fallen into disrepair due to neglect. Some employees have even been accused of renting out municipal vehicles for personal gain.

From 2019 to 2021, the Ministry of Environment and Forests allocated Tk 29.95 million to install 155 solar streetlights and 261 stainless steel waste bins under the Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund (BCCTF). However, many of these have been installed improperly and are not serving their purpose. Instead, the municipality remains filled with dust, dirt, and the stench of garbage.

The town’s three-story municipal market remains closed for unknown reasons, further adding to residents’ frustrations. Additionally, since May 2022, the municipality has had seven different administrators, each disrupting services and leaving residents in uncertainty.

In response to allegations, Municipal Executive Officer Mohammad Harun-or-Rashid denied all accusations, calling them baseless. Regarding the issue of unpaid salaries, he explained that the backlog started during the tenure of former mayor Rafiuddin Ahmed Ferdous.

On the night of September 16, 2024, at 10:30 PM, Municipal Administrator and Additional District Commissioner (Education and ICT) Mohammad Selim Hossain confirmed his recent appointment as the new administrator during a conversation with Voice7 News. Hossain expressed surprise that no actions had been taken regarding ongoing municipal issues. "I am aware of the situation, but I am puzzled as to why no steps have been implemented so far," he said. When asked if an investigation would be conducted into the matter, he chose not to provide further comments.

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