Three-day programme announced in Bagerhat to protest EC move to cut constituencies

The All-Party Coordination Committee in Bagerhat has announced a three-day programme demanding that the district retain its four parliamentary constituencies, rejecting the Election Commission's proposal to reduce the number to three.

The announcement was made at an emergency press conference at Bagerhat Press Club this morning.

District BNP and committee convener ATM Akram Hossain Talim declared the programme at 11:00am in the presence of district Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Maulana Rezaul Karim, former BNP district president MA Salam, Jamaat Nayeb-e-Ameer Maulana Abdul Wadud, secretary Maulana Yunus Ahmed and other committee leaders.

According to the schedule, road blockades will be enforced from Katakhali to Noapara on Thursday (August 21) between 9:00am and 1:00pm.

On Sunday (August 24), blockades will take place from 9:00am to 4:00pm at several points of the Khulna–Mawa highway, including Noapara, Katakhali, Fakirhat, Mollahat Bridge, and the Pirojpur–Bagerhat highway at Signboard intersection.

The programme also includes sit-ins at the offices of the deputy commissioner and district election officer.

Additionally, on August 25 the committee will march in protest and stage a sit-in in front of the Election Commission office in Dhaka, Akram said.

"We have united across all parties to retain Bagerhat's four constituencies. We are ready to do whatever it takes to keep them," he told reporters.

Bagerhat has long consisted of four constituencies. On July 30, the Election Commission placed a preliminary proposal for the upcoming 13th national elections to cut one seat from the district, reducing it to three. The proposal has sparked widespread anger and protests, with the All-Party Coordination Committee already staging rallies, submitting memorandums, and holding a human chain in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka.

A hearing on the proposal is scheduled at the Election Commission office on August 25.