Strike shuts down six unions in Chittagong over new sub-district headquarters location

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A dawn-to-dusk general strike paralyzed six unions in Chittagong’s newly formed Fatikchhari North upazila on Thursday, as protesters demanded the relocation of the proposed administrative headquarters. Organized by the Fatikchhari North Upazila Implementation Coordination Council, the strike effectively halted daily life and commerce across the Narayanganj, Dantamara, Shantirhat, Heyako, Chikonchhara, and Baganbazar unions.

Protesters signaled their dissent early Thursday morning by lighting fires and blocking the Feni-Khagrachhari regional highway with felled trees. The unrest left hundreds of vehicles—including buses, trucks, and auto-rickshaws—stranded along critical transit arteries such as the Felagazi Dighi-Heyako road. While most commercial establishments and shopping centers shuttered in support of the movement, essential services, including pharmacies, clinics, and educational institutions, remained operational.

Local law enforcement maintained a visible presence throughout the affected areas to manage the security situation. According to Bhujpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Bipul Chandra Dey, additional police units were deployed at key intersections to prevent violence. While the demonstrations were reported as peaceful, police officials confirmed that they remain prepared to take legal action should the situation escalate.

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The friction centers on a decision by the National Implementation Committee for Administrative Reorganization (NICAR) on July 1, which approved the formation of the new upazila with its headquarters slated for a location adjacent to the Bhujpur police station. Protesters argue that this site is geographically impractical and fails to serve the region’s 250,000 residents. They are instead calling for the headquarters to be established further north, situated between the Dantamara and Narayanganj unions.

Nurul Amin Azad, coordinator for the Implementation Coordination Council, asserted that the current location ignores the basic logistical needs of the local population. He emphasized that the protest is a pursuit of fair administrative access, warning that the council is prepared to launch more rigorous demonstrations if their demands for a more central location are not met.