Three-day hartal begins in Bagerhat demanding retention of constituencies

A three-day hartal called by the all-party combined committee demanding the retention of Bagerhat's four parliamentary constituencies began today, although the strike did not impact traffic on local roads.

Since the hartal began at 6:00am, party activists brought out processions in front of the deputy commissioner and the district election offices in support of the hartal. The Daily Star witnessed several sit-ins at different locations in the district.

No long-haul or inter-district buses left Bagerhat's Central Bus Terminal, while shops and businesses remained open. Motorcycles, battery-run three-wheelers and rickshaws continued to ply the highways and local roads.

Former district BNP president MA Salam said the strike was limited to highways to spare the public from suffering. "Two-wheelers and businesses remain outside the hartal's purview so people aren't facing difficulties today," he said.

Leaders of the combined committee reiterated that the four constituencies must be retained. BNP central Research Affairs Secretary Shamimur Rahman Shamim said, "This is the rightful demand of the people of Bagerhat. Until it is realised, our movement will continue. If necessary, we will move the High Court."

According to the programme, the hartal will be observed from dawn to dusk on Monday, and from 6:00am to 12:00pm on Tuesday and Wednesday also. Earlier, the committee enforced two phases of shutdowns and blockades on the same demand.

Narayan Das, a resident and an easy bike driver, said, "The people of Bagerhat want to return to the old system of four constituencies."

The movement began on July 30, when the Election Commission proposed reducing Bagerhat's constituencies from four to three constituencies ahead of the upcoming 13th national election. Residents joined the commission's hearing demanding the retention of all four, but on September 4, the final gazette was issued keeping only three constituencies with slight boundary changes.

As per the gazette, Bagerhat-1 comprises Sadar, Chitalmari and Mollahat; Bagerhat-2 covers Fakirhat, Rampal and Mongla; and Bagerhat-3 includes Kachua, Morrelganj and Sharankhola.

Previously, elections were held in four constituencies: Bagerhat-1 (Chitalmari, Mollahat, Fakirhat), Bagerhat-2 (Sadar, Kachua), Bagerhat-3 (Rampal, Mongla), and Bagerhat-4 (Morrelganj, Sharankhola)