48-hour strike begins in Bagerhat demanding 4 parliamentary constituencies
On 30 July, a primary proposal was made to reduce Bagerhat’s four constituencies to three for the next national election. Since then, the people of Bagerhat have been protesting
A 48-hour strike and road blockade began across Bagerhat today (10 September), demanding the retention of its four parliamentary constituencies after the Election Commission reduced the number to three.
The strike, which started this morning, is scheduled to continue until 6pm tomorrow (11 September). Activists of the all-party combined committee enforced the hartal by lighting fires and placing tree trunks on different roads.
As of 8am this morning, leaders and activists of different parties brought out processions in support of the hartal at different points in the district. Jamaat-BNP activists also held a rally in front of the main gate of the district election officer's office, where they raised slogans, warned the Election Commission to return the four constituencies, and declared that the movement would continue until the demand was met.
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Transport services on both long-distance and internal routes have remained suspended since morning, leaving commuters suffering.
On 30 July, a primary proposal was made to reduce Bagerhat's four constituencies to three for the next national election. Since then, the people of Bagerhat have been protesting. Residents also took part in the Election Commission hearing demanding retention of four constituencies.
However, on 4 September, the commission published the final gazette, keeping three constituencies with boundary changes.
According to the gazette, Bagerhat-1 (Bagerhat Sadar-Chitalmari-Mollahat), Bagerhat-2 (Fakirhat-Rampal-Mongla), and Bagerhat-3 (Kachua-Morelganj-Sharankhola) will remain.
Elections had long been held in four constituencies with the previous boundaries: Bagerhat-1 (Chitalmari-Mollahat-Fakirhat), Bagerhat-2 (Bagerhat Sadar-Kachua), Bagerhat-3 (Rampal-Mongla), and Bagerhat-4 (Morelganj-Sharankhola).
