Strike blocks highway over Fatikchhari in Ctg

 A dawn-to-dusk strike and highway blockade disrupted traffic in northern Fatikchhari on Thursday as protesters demanded that the headquarters of the newly created Fatikchhari North Upazila be established in a more centrally located area.

 The programme, called by the Fatikchhari North Upazila Implementation Coordination Council, brought traffic to a standstill on the Dhaka–Feni–Khagrachhari regional highway and the Fatikchhari–Heyako road. Protesters blocked key points with trucks and felled trees, halting the movement of passenger buses and goods-laden vehicles.

 Residents from several unions, including Baganbazar, Dantmara and Narayanhat, gathered in Narayanhat and Heyako markets, demanding that the upazila headquarters be located at a geographically convenient site accessible to people from all six constituent unions.

 Shops and businesses remained closed during the strike, while police were deployed at key locations to maintain law and order. Authorities said the situation was being closely monitored and security forces remained on alert.

 Bhujpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Bipul Chandra Dey said the law and order situation was under control and police were working to restore normal traffic.

 The protesters argued that the currently proposed location would make access to government services more difficult and costly for most residents. They said they had previously held peaceful demonstrations, human chains and submitted memorandums but resorted to the strike after failing to receive a satisfactory response from the authorities.