Leaders and activists of the "Shorbo Dolio Shammilito Committee" staged a protest and sit-in programme in Bagerhat on Sunday from 8:00am to 11:00am in front of the district court and deputy commissioner's office, demanding the re-demarcation of parliamentary constituencies.
Demonstrators locked all government offices across nine upazilas of the district during the protest.
They also said that, as part of the movement, a three-day hartal would begin on Monday as previously declared.
MA Salam, co-convener of the committee and former president of Bagerhat District BNP, said the decision to modify the hartal's hours was taken considering the upcoming Durga Puja festival as well as appeals from local traders and the general public.
According to the revised announcement, the three-day hartal will begin 6:00am on Monday and last until 6:00pm. On Tuesday and Wednesday, strikes will be observed from 6:00am to 12:00pm.
During the hartal, markets, shops, and business establishments will remain open. To reduce public suffering, rickshaws, e-bikes, and motorcycles will also be allowed to operate.
However, no passenger buses or goods trucks will be permitted on highways.
The announced hartal exempts local roads used for intra-district travel, along with emergency services, including ambulances, law enforcement vehicles, power and fire service vehicles, and transportation for students appearing in exams.
Sheikh Yunus, member secretary of the Shorbo Dolio Shammilito Committee and secretary of the district Jamaat-e-Islami, said, "Considering the suffering of the public, we have decided to limit the hartal to highway blockades only. Since Durga Puja is around the corner, business activities will also remain unaffected. However, the movement will continue until our demands are met."
BNP Central Committee Member Wahiduzzaman Dipu added, "We expect the hearing to take place next week and are hopeful about regaining the parliamentary constituencies," he said.
The ongoing protest in Bagerhat erupted following the Election Commission (EC) finalising the delimitation of 300 constituencies, ahead of the 13th Parliamentary Election, slated for February. According to the finalised gazette of EC, Bagerhat, where elections had been held in four constituencies since 1969, will now have only three constituencies, each comprising three upazilas.
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