All-Party Committee in Bagerhat calls protests over loss of constituency

The Shorbodolio Shommilito Committee (All-Party United Committee) in Bagerhat has announced a series of protest programmes, such as hartal and rallies, demanding the restoration of the district's four parliamentary constituencies after the Election Commission reduced them to three.

The announcement was made today at an emergency press conference at Bagerhat Press Club, where BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami leaders condemned the EC's final delimitation gazette issued on September 4, alleging it ignored public sentiment.

As per the declaration, protest rallies were scheduled across nine upazilas and three municipalities this afternoon. A daylong hartal will be observed tomorrow, followed by protest processions on Tuesday. Shutdowns will again be enforced on Wednesday and Thursday. Ambulances, student transport, and emergency services will remain exempt from the strike.

Former district BNP vice-president Khan Monirul Islam said, "From the day of the draft gazette, we have been on the streets. Despite our appeals, the EC arbitrarily reduced one seat. We will intensify the movement if necessary."

District Jamaat Ameer Maulana Rezaul Karim said, "We tried to make the EC hear the people's cry. If they continue to ignore us, we will announce stronger programmes."

Former BNP district president MA Salam said a legal committee has been formed to move the High Court soon. Supreme Court lawyer and BNP joint convener Barrister Zakir Hossain said, "The EC has taken away the rights of Bagerhat's people. We will fight in court as well as on the streets."

According to the EC's final gazette, Bagerhat now consists of three constituencies:

Bagerhat-1: Sadar, Chitalmari, Mollahat  

Bagerhat-2: Fakirhat, Rampal, Mongla

Bagerhat-3: Kachua, Morelganj, Sarankhola 

For decades, since 1969, elections in Bagerhat were held in four constituencies:

Bagerhat-1: Chitalmari, Mollahat, Fakirhat

Bagerhat-2: Sadar, Kachua

Bagerhat-3: Rampal, Mongla

Bagerhat-4: Morelganj, Sarankhola