Bangladesh, Aug. 25 -- 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 ...