kamrul Hasan: Bangladesh Upazila Parishad Chairman Foundation President, former Chairman of Manikganj Sadar Upazila Parishad and former Senior Vice President of District BNP and member of District BNP Convening Committee, Ataur Rahman Ata has strongly demanded restoration of Manikganj district to four parliamentary constituencies. He is currently a BNP candidate for Manikganj-3 constituency.

He made this demand at a press conference at his residence in Manikganj town on Saturday afternoon. He said, “In the post-independence period, Manikganj district was divided into four parliamentary constituencies. But before the 2008 elections, the then Awami League government purposefully canceled one constituency out of political vendetta and converted the district into three constituencies. This has reduced the voting rights and constitutional participation of the people here.”
Ata complained, “The autocratic Awami League government has always underestimated democracy and the people’s verdict. The seats in Manikganj were reduced because BNP has always maintained its popularity in this area. There was a well-planned conspiracy behind this to weaken the democratic forces.”
He further said, “The autocratic fascist ruler Hasina was forced to flee the country in the face of the student-public uprising on August 5. The current interim government’s ban on all political activities of the Awami League proves that the nation has chosen a new democratic path against fascism.”
Ata said, “The number of voters in each of the three constituencies in Manikganj is now more than three lakh. According to the constitution and the guidelines of the Election Commission, it is reasonable to reorganize the district into four constituencies based on this number of voters. This disparity in Manikganj should be eliminated before the election roadmap is announced.”
He drew the attention of the Chief Advisor, Election Commission and the Reform Coordination Committee and said, “To establish democracy in the country, fair participation and equal voting rights of the people must be ensured. If the four seats of Manikganj are not restored, the restoration of the political rights of the people here will remain incomplete.”
The press conference was attended by Dargram Union BNP President Md. Habibur Rahman Habib, District Jubo Dal Convening Committee member Babul Hossain Babu, Sadar Thana Krishak Dal President Abdur Razzak, Vice President Anisul Haque Khan Sajlo, former District Chhatra Dal leader Mahfuzur Rahman Robin, and leaders from various levels of BNP and its affiliates.
Ata said, “To honor the blood of the martyrs of the historic July uprising, we must bring revolutionary reforms in the constitutional and political structure. Let this begin with returning the full 4 seats of Manikganj.”