The roads in the residential areas of Kalapara Municipal Town in Patuakhali have increasingly become garbage dumps. Improper disposal of waste, overturned plastic dustbins, the failure of sanitation workers to perform their duties properly, and ineffective waste management have all contributed to the growing inconvenience for citizens.
Walking on the streets has become difficult in many residential areas. Residents note that due to the absence of elected representatives, municipal services have deteriorated.
Kalapara is a first-class municipality in southern Bangladesh, adjacent to Payra Sea Port, Sher-e-Bangla Naval Base, and Kuakata tourist area, attracting both local and foreign tourists daily. However, proper civic services have not been ensured. Visitors often leave with negative impressions, and citizens report not receiving adequate services despite paying municipal taxes. Water supply lines often fail, streetlights remain off at night, and the quality of road construction is so poor that traveling feels like moving over waves. Substandard materials used in development projects have hindered sustainable growth. Some roads even show signs of encroachment or illegal pond excavation.
Moreover, development projects, markets, and bus stands have fallen under syndicate control, leading to chaotic situations. There is a discrepancy between the actual revenue collection and bank deposits, and a sudden decline in municipal revenue has been observed in the current fiscal year.
Walking through the town, one can see cows, goats, and dogs fighting over trash spilling from dustbins left on the streets. Because sanitation workers fail to remove garbage on time, foul odors spread to residential areas, causing distress to pedestrians. Many residents dispose of household waste directly into canals, ponds, or drains, which causes waterlogging during even minor rainfall. Canals running through the town are clogged with waste, and illegal encroachments along the banks remain unremoved.
Md. Anichur Rahman, a resident of Ward No. 4, said that although sanitation workers receive monthly salaries and tips according to their demands, they neglect their duties. For the past 3–4 days, garbage in front of his home has not been cleared, causing inconvenience to his family.
Kalapara Municipal Sanitary Inspector Md. Nurul Haque stated that the engine van used for garbage collection had its battery stolen, which delayed garbage removal in several residential areas for two to three days. He added that garbage collection has resumed, and in areas accessible to garbage trucks, waste is being removed regularly.
