Struggle for livelihood
Employees and workers of Mathbaria municipality have remained unpaid for 13 months, and are facing financial hardship.
They said 69 permanent and 65 master rolled employees and workers of the municipality have remained unpaid from October last year to till now. As a result, they are passing their days in hardship.
“It has become difficult for us to run our families and meet other demands as we have remained unpaid for over one year,” said an employee of the municipality wishing anonymity.
He also said they are running their families by taking loan from others.
Another employee Md Shah Alam, assistant accountant (in-charge) of the municipality, said when the municipality earns money, the mayor pays their salary. But the amount is very little.
“We are paid from the earning of the municipality. As inhabitants are not paying taxes, we are unpaid,” he said.
Md Harun Ur Rashid, secretary of the municipality, confessed the fact.
He said many inhabitants of the municipality are not paying their taxes. “Due to financial crisis of the municipality, the employees and workers have remained unpaid for over one year,” said Harun.
Around TK 20 lakh is needed to pay the salary of the employees and workers. As the municipality is an autonomous organisation, the salary of its employees and workers is paid from collected tax money and other income of it, he said.
Residents of the municipality said around one and half years ago, the municipality increased the amount of taxes. They protested the decision and even stopped paying tax.
At one stage, the municipality authority changed their decision and decreased tax charge. But many people are not paying tax.
Md Manjur Rahman, councillor of ward no 2 of the municipality, declined to say anything about the matter.
Meanwhile, Mayor Rafiuddin Ahmed Ferdaus is now out of the country.
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