The All-Party Unity Council in Bhanga upazila of Faridpur district on Tuesday postponed the ongoing movement until Saturday demanding re-demarcation of parliamentary constituencies, threatening tougher programmes from Sunday if their demands are not met.
Md Palash Mia, a resident of Algir Union and representative of the council formed, announced it in the afternoon.
鈥榃e have decided to postpone the programme after consulting everyone. We will wait until Sunday. If the issue is not addressed by then we will resume tougher programmes. We will not return home until our demand is fulfilled,鈥� he said.
Calling the recent violence a 鈥榗onspiracy,鈥� Faridpur BNP president advocate Syed Modarres Ali Isha alleged that Awami League-backed 鈥榯errorists鈥� carried out destructive attacks instigated by Nixon Chowdhury and Kazi Zafar Ullah, urging the administration to take legal action against the attackers.
Tuesday was the last day of the declared three-day programme.
In the morning, the protesters blocked the Dhaka-Barishal highway for nearly two hours by placing electric poles and tree logs. Traffic resumed around 9:30am after the blockades were removed.
A large number of law enforcers, including army, BGB, RAB and police, were deployed across the area for patrols.
Expressing concern over the ongoing movement, local Ibrahim Khan demanded the unconditional release of Algir Union Parishad Chairman MM Siddiq Mia, withdrawal of 鈥榝alse cases,鈥� an end to night-time harassment by law enforcers, no filing of new cases, and reinstatement of Algir and Hamirdi unions under Faridpur-4.
The trouble began on September 4 when the Election Commission issued a gazette notification reassigning Algir and Hamirdi unions of Bhanga from Faridpur-4 to Faridpur-2 constituency.
The following day, locals launched highway blockades and they again blocked highways and the Dhaka-Khulna railway line on September 9 and 10.
On September 13, the All-Party Unity Council announced a three-day protest beginning September 14. That same night, its chief coordinator Siddiq Mia was arrested by DB police and later shown arrested in a Speedy Trial Act case naming 90 accused and 150 unidentified people.
On Sunday, the protestors blocked both roads and railways.
By Monday, violence escalated as protesters launched sudden attacks on police near Bhanga bus stand, vandalising the upazila parishad office, thana, election office, and highway police station.
Senior officials, including Deputy Inspector General for Dhaka Range Rezaul Karim Mallic, visited the area Monday night.
Calling the attackers 鈥榝ascists,鈥� the DIG ordered arrests.
Meanwhile, Faridpur Deputy Commissioner Md Kamrul Hasan Molla sent a letter to the Election Commission seeking reconsideration of the union demarcation.
Speaking on Tuesday afternoon, DC Kamrul said the matter has been conveyed to higher authorities.
鈥楢 writ on the issue is scheduled for hearing on September 21. Until then, we urge patience,鈥� he said, adding that work is underway to assess damages caused by violence.
