HM Rasek, Amtali (Barguna)

Amtali Municipality was established on 23 August 1998. In 2015, it was promoted to first class municipality. More than 33 thousand people live in this municipality with an area of about 7.75 square kilometers.

An average of 16 tons of waste is generated every day. Although 26 years have passed since the establishment of the municipality, the municipal authorities have not been able to construct a waste treatment plant to dispose of the city's garbage.

Payra (Burishwar) river is the only source of waste disposal since the municipality was formed. As it is polluting the environment. On the other hand, the production of hilsa is hindered. Along with the garbage, various plastic waste including polythene is floating in the river. Residents next to the river say that thousands of people are using dirty water for daily work. They are suffering from various diseases including skin, diarrhea. Life has become miserable due to the stench of garbage. Therefore, the conscious citizens of the municipality demand the construction of waste treatment plants to protect the environment.

In 2015, during the Awami government period, it was declared as a first class municipality, but the municipal authorities could not manage any designated place for waste disposal. Residents are blaming the former mayor for not having a designated place to dump garbage from a first-class municipality.

Md. Aminul Islam, a resident of Ward No. 1 of the municipality, said that visitors come and go to this place on the banks of Payra river. Garbage is dumped here - keeping it in a designated place can protect it from harming the environment and the river.

Adv Shahabuddin Panna, General Secretary of Amtali Upazila Citizens Forum, said that although Amtali Municipality is first class, there is no waste management system. Despite repeated reports to the municipal authorities for waste management, there was no solution. Their demand is construction of modern waste management plant, recycling of municipal waste, production of fertilizer and construction of environment-friendly permanent dumping station. Citizens who are deprived of civic benefits should take quick initiatives to fulfill these demands.

Amtali Upazila Health and Family Planning Dr. According to Tengmong, the risk of people contracting diseases increases several times when using contaminated water. There is also a similar risk from open waste.

Amtali Upazila Agriculture Officer Md. Isa said that municipal authorities can turn their garbage into resources in addition to providing citizen services by setting up waste treatment plants. It is possible to produce biogas and organic fertilizers from their collected waste.

Municipal Executive Engineer (Additional Duty) Md. Mojibul Haider said that efforts are underway to allocate land for setting up a waste treatment plant.

Amtali Municipal Administrator Muhammad Ashraful Alam said, government sites are being sought for waste management. They are not able to acquire private land from convenient places due to lack of sufficient funds.