Nasrin Sultana, Amtali Correspondent:

The “Galpa Kuti floating cafe” in the municipal lake adjacent to AK Government Secondary School in Amtali Paur, Barguna has been alleged to be a crime haven. The school authorities demanded the closure of this cafe immediately. The closure of this cafe was proposed in the legal order meeting at the Upazila Parishad auditorium.
It is reported that Miron Khan and Asim built this story cottage floating cafe in the municipal lake adjacent to Amtali AK Government Secondary School in 2021. In the beginning, the school authorities blocked the construction. But the owners of the cafe opened the cafe ignoring the opposition of the school authorities using political influence. Every day in the cafe there is a chat of different people from morning to late night.
The school authorities complained that the cafe was open during school hours, so students skipped class and chatted. In addition, there are many people brought to the cafe throughout the day. Eyewitnesses alleged that various immoral activities including drug consumption were going on.
The demand to close this cafe was discussed in Amtali upazila law and order meeting on Monday. In that meeting, Amtali Upazila Awami League President Mayor Matiar Rahman said that there are various immoral activities including drugs in Vasman Cafe. Students of various schools and colleges are engaging in chatter and immoral activities in that cafe. He demanded the immediate closure of the floating cafe to protect the students and youth.
Amtali AK Government Secondary School Principal (Acting) Bazlur Rahman said that the cafe is open during school hours so students skip classes and hang out there. This is disrupting the learning environment. Zahid Talukder, the current owner of Vasman Cafe denied all the allegations and said that some people get behind when doing something good.
Same happened to me. I am not involved in any unethical activities. He also said, I rented this cafe a month ago. I don’t know what the previous ones did. Amtali police station OC Kazi Shakhawat Hossain Tapu said that various complaints were raised against the cafe in the law enforcement meeting. Amtali upazila executive officer Muhammad Ashraful Alam said that according to the decision of the upazila law enforcement meeting, quick action will be taken. – Edited by Erfan Alam