AMTALI, BARGUNA, Mar 30: The Amtali Town Hall in Barguna has remained in a state of disrepair for more than 18 years since it was damaged by the devastating Cyclone Sidr in 2007. The cyclone ripped off the tin roof of the building, leaving it abandoned and unusable.
With no auditorium available in Amtali for meetings or cultural programmes, local residents and members of the cultural community have long demanded the hall's renovation.
The town hall was originally part of a government initiative in May 1973, which aimed to build an auditorium in every thana (sub-district). At that time, Mohammad Nizam Uddin Ahmed Talukdar, a young freedom fighter and then the youngest MP, brought Amtali under the scheme. Land allocation and funding were completed, and construction began in November-December 1973. The work was supervised by Mohammad Nurul Islam Pasha Talukdar, the first private-in-charge official of Amtali Thana after the Liberation War. The hall was named Amtali Town Hall, and its design was created by freedom fighters Advocate Gazi Amir Hossain Gazi and Mohammad Atahar Uddin Akon, following the advice of MP Nizam Uddin Ahmed.
Construction was halted after the assassination of then-President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family on 15 August 1975. The building remained abandoned for years. In 1977, freedom fighter Mohammad Shah Alam Talukdar initiated a local fundraising effort to convert part of the hall into a gymnasium, which operated briefly but later closed.
In 1986, the Amtali Upazila Parishad took steps to renovate the town hall, raising hopes among local cultural activists.
However, when the parishad signed a contract with Shyamoli Cinema Hall owner Zulfikar Shahin to convert the hall into a cinema, cultural workers protested strongly. Despite the opposition, the then-upazila chairman Shamsul Alam Talukdar opened the Suravi Cinema Hall in the building. The cinema ran for several years but eventually closed due to financial losses, leaving unpaid rent to the parishad.
Later, under the guidance of Haldiya Union Parishad Chairman Mohammad Mahbubul Alam Jhuntu Talukdar, local youths including journalist Bahadur Khan carried out partial renovations of the hall, including the stage, funded by the parishad. The hall hosted rehearsals and stage performances by Udichi, Muktijoddha Sangsad, and Ekota Club.
In the mid-1990s, it reopened as Lavlu Cinema Hall under the ownership of Abdul Alim of Galachipa, but was closed again in 2004 under orders of then-MP Matiar Rahman. The final blow came on 15 November 2007, when Cyclone Sidr destroyed the roof and left the hall abandoned.
Senior journalist Advocate Sahabuddin Panna said, the town hall's renovation is essential to engage local youth in cultural activities and steer them away from drugs. "Without cultural programmes, young people are more vulnerable to substance abuse. Renovating and reopening the town hall for social and cultural events will reduce drug addiction among the youth," he said, urging immediate restoration.
Amtali Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Municipal Administrator Muhammad Zafar Arif Chowdhury told that the building will be inspected, and steps will be taken to make it functional for social and cultural activities as an auditorium.
