BNP, Jamaat press EC to restore Bagerhat's 4 seats following HC verdict 

A delegation of representatives from the district units of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami met the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) today (11 November), urging to comply with the High Court's ruling to reinstate Bagerhat's four parliamentary constituencies. 

Yesterday (10 November), the High Court declared illegal the Election Commission's gazette that had reduced Bagerhat's constituencies from 4 to 3. The following day, the delegation first met Election Commission Secretary Akhtar Ahmed before holding talks with the CEC. 

The delegation included Sheikh Wadizzzuman Dipu, member of the BNP Executive Committee; Kazi Moniruzzaman Monir, BNP district adviser and senior joint convenor of the party's Weavers' Wing; and Manjurul Islam Rahat of Jamaat-e-Islami, along with around a dozen other representatives. 

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Wadizzzuman Dipu said, "The copy of the verdict has not yet reached us. We met the Secretary and the CEC beforehand to convey the appeal of the people of Bagerhat. The action taken by the Election Commission has been declared illegal and unconstitutional by the country's highest court. We urge the Commission to respect the court's verdict."

He further requested that no new measures be taken that might cause additional pressure or uncertainty for the people of the district.

Ahead of the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election, the EC had proposed on 30 July reducing Bagerhat's constituencies from four to three—a move that triggered widespread protests, strikes, and demonstrations demanding the restoration of all four seats.

Although a public hearing was held, the Commission maintained its decision and issued a final gazette on 4 September confirming the reduction, while increasing Gazipur's constituencies from five to six.

As protests continued, the Commission insisted that the redistricting was carried out with fairness and due process. However, two writ petitions were later filed in the High Court, naming the Government, the CEC, the EC Secretary, and the Attorney General as respondents.

Following a hearing on 16 September, the court questioned the legality of the redistricting and asked the respondents to explain. 

Finally, yesterday, a High Court bench comprising Justice Shashanka Shekhar Sarkar and Justice Faisal Hasan Arif declared the gazette invalid, restoring Bagerhat's four constituencies.