People living in Matlab municipality area in Chandpur have been aggrieved at the poor state of public amenities for long.
Locals say they pay taxes but are unable to enjoy any facilities in return that will make their life more comfortable.
Terrible condition of drainage systems and roads, and unplanned erection of residential and commercial structures are what characterises the area.
There are many khas lands at Matlab Bazar but there is no rickshaw, autorickshaw or truck stand.
The municipality, which now boasts some 71,000 residents, was established in 1998 when incumbent Disaster Management and Relief Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya was the state minister for local government.
Maya, also the lawmaker of Chandpur 2 constituency, has been promising massive development initiatives in Matlab for long but nothing has been implemented as yet.
There are many wards without any paved roads.
Several roads are dilapidated, including Kaladi Road, Matlab Bazar Road, Baishpur Road, Dashpara Road, Nabakalash Road and Rath Bazar Road.
The bridge on Jhamjham canal in Purba Kaladi remains broken for a long period, putting vehicles and passengers in big trouble. Besides, timber traders in the area have practically turned roads into warehouses as the roads are littered with trunks.
Ziauddin, who lives in Purba Kaladi, said there is no playground in the area where children can play.
“Why should we call this a municipality area when we are paying taxes in exchange for nothing?” he said.
Locals said building unplanned housing units and filling up ponds had damaged the drainage system, which often leads to waterlogging in the rainy season.
Wastes are dumped here and there on roads, producing foul smell and also polluting the environment, they said.
Himel Roy, a student of Matlab High School, said the garbage dumped near the school produces intense odour.
There are almost 1,300 shops at Matlab Bazar and almost 6,000 people, including shop owners and workers, live in the area but it has only one public toilet.
Al-amin, a trader by profession, said work to widen the municipality’s key road connecting several districts began a couple of months ago but is now suspended.
Sub-assistant Engineer of the municipality Nazmul Jishan said the road, even after repair, gets back to its previous condition because of the lack of smooth drainage facilities.
The municipality’s Panel Mayor Shah Gias said arranging public amenities was uncertain as there were limitations of resources.
“We are unable to offer even some of the basic facilities if we do not get the allocation we need. Moreover, we have never been allocated funds that we require to arrange such facilities,” he added.
Municipality Mayor Enamul Haque Badal is a BNP leader and has been elected twice.
But his party could not come to power since the day he assumed office, something locals believe is the reason why development remains elusive in the area.
Badal has also conceded this, saying he had to face obstacles at many offices because of his political identity.
“Besides, it is true that the area is quite large but the annual allocation of funds is inadequate,” he added.