EC faces pushback over plan to reduce Bagerhat parliamentary seats

Lawyers and political leaders reject the proposal to cut Bagerhat’s parliamentary seats from four to three

The Election Commission has come under pressure from local representatives in Bagerhat, who are demanding that all four of the district’s parliamentary constituencies be retained.

At a hearing in Dhaka on Monday, lawyers and political leaders rejected the EC’s draft plan to cut Bagerhat’s seats from four to three in a bid to equalise voter numbers.

Under the draft plan, Bagerhat-1 remains unchanged, while Bagerhat-2 would include Sadar, Kachua and Rampal Upazilas, and Bagerhat-3 would combine Mongla, Morrelganj and Sarankhola.

“Since independence Bagerhat has had four constituencies. Cutting one is unreasonable, unlawful and impractical,” said lawyer Wahiduzzaman Dipu, representing Bagerhat-3. Others accused the commission of undermining public rights and warned of possible protests or legal challenges.

A BNP leader argued the district actually deserves five seats, while the National Citizen Party complained its representatives were not given adequate time to present arguments.

The EC has proposed boundary changes in 39 constituencies nationwide in a bid to balance voter numbers across constituencies. But objections have been raised in 83. Final decisions are expected by Aug 27.