All-Day Strike in Bagerhat Over Reduction of Parliamentary Seats

PNN News Desk | Bagerhat:
A full-day strike is being observed across Bagerhat district on Monday in protest of the decision to reduce one parliamentary seat from the district’s four seats. Organized by the district’s All-Party Joint Committee, the strike has halted all long-distance routes, including 48 inter-district routes from Bagerhat to Dhaka, Chattogram, and others.

Due to the strike, transportation within all upazila headquarters and municipal towns in the district has come to a complete halt, affecting the movement of goods to and from Mongla Port. Educational institutions, businesses, banks, insurance offices, and government offices are also closed.

Leaders and activists from various political parties, including the BNP and Jamaat, along with local residents, have locked district and upazila administrative offices. Law enforcement personnel have been deployed at key locations in the town, but no untoward incidents have been reported so far.

On September 4, the Election Commission reduced Bagerhat’s four seats to three, prompting the All-Party Joint Committee to announce the strike in protest. Committee convener M. A. Salam stated, “The movement will continue until all four seats are restored.” District Jamaat Amir Maulana Rezaul Karim added, “The Election Commission will be held responsible for any obstacles that arise.”