Political parties' Bagerhat units on Thursday protested the Election Commission’s preliminary proposal to reduce the district’s parliamentary seats from four to three, threatening tougher movement if the decision is executed.

Besides, they announced a series of protest programmes to press home their demand.

At an emergency press conference held at Bagerhat Press Club, a newly formed all-party political council denounced the proposal.

BNP central leader and Research Affairs Secretary Shamimur Rahman Shamim, Bagerhat district BNP convenor ATM Akram Hossain Talukdar, former district BNP president MA Salam, Jamaat-e-Islami district Ameer Maulana Rezaul Karim, and leaders from Islami Andolon, Khilafat Majlish, and other political parties were present at the press conference.

BNP leader Akram said protest marches would be held on Saturday and Sunday, starting at 10am from Dashani intersection. Memoranda will also be submitted to the Deputy Commissioner and District Election Officer.

He said the proposal was rejected on the basis of a political consensus across the district, adding, “The Election Commission’s move to redraw Bagerhat’s constituencies is geographically absurd and unacceptable.”

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BNP leader Monirul Islam criticized the merging of Rampal with Bagerhat-2 and the proposal to combine Mongla, Morrelganj, and Sarankhola into a single seat, calling it ‘completely irrational in terms of population and area.’

Jamaat leader Rezaul Karim said all parties in Bagerhat would work together to retain the district’s four seats.

BNP’s MA Salam warned of a complete shutdown of Bagerhat if the proposal is not withdrawn.

The EC's proposal, released Wednesday, sparked immediate anger across the district, which has historically had four parliamentary seats since the 1970 elections.