The bank branch was shifted to the lawmaker's area in Mirganj in the early hours of August 17, violating all norms and rules, the protesters told a press conference yesterday.

The press conference virtually turned into a rally as people spontaneously gathered here to listen to the speakers. The press conference, held at the local college ground, was addressed by leaders of Shovaganj Development Sangram Parishad, a newly formed civic body to press the demand for restoration of the bank branch to its original site at Shovaganj Bazaar. The Sangram Parishad leaders gave the lawmaker a seven-day deadline to meet the demand and threatened of tougher agitation for non-compliance. It was addressed by its president Harun-ur-Rashid, Baijid Hossain Bablu, Mowlana Ashraf Ali, Easin Ali Sarker, Sunil Kumar Barua and Delwer Hossain Nuri.

They said Shaovaganj is the second largest market in Sundrganj upazila, where the Janata Bank branch was opened 29 years ago. The bank was running profitably with over 11,000 savings accounts, mostly by buisnessmen.

Local Jama'at MP shifted the branch to Mirganj without any alternative arrangement or prior notice, they alleged.

Shifting of the bank sparked protests by local people on the following day. They held rallies and submitted a memorandum to the Gaibandha Deputy Commissioner, which contained signature of about 10,000 people, the speakers said.

Earlier, the people also held rallies, brought out processions and barricated the Gaibandha-Rangpur highway.

In the face of protests, the district administration and bank authorities pledged to restore the bank to its original place, but it is yet to be fulfilled, they said. The speakers also said people of Shovaganj will stop paying all kinds of tolls and taxes and go for tougher agitation if the bank branch is not restored within seven days.

People of seven unions would boycott Abdul Aziz if their demand is not me immediately, they said.