United News of Bangladesh

The All-Party Unity Council in Bhanga upazila of Faridpur district on Tuesday postponed the ongoing movement until Saturday demanding re-demarcation of parliamentary constituencies, threatening tougher programmes from Sunday if their demands are not met. Md Palash Mia, a resident of Algir Union and representative of the council formed, announced it in the afternoon. “We have decided to postpone the programme after consulting everyone. We will wait until Sunday. If the issue is not addressed by then we will resume tougher programmes. We will not return home until our demand is fulfilled,” he said. Calling the recent violence a ‘conspiracy,’ Faridpur BNP President Advocate Syed Modarres Ali Isha alleged that Awami League-backed ‘terrorists’ carried out destructive attacks instigated by Nixon Chowdhury and Kazi Zafar Ullah, urging the administration to take legal action against the attackers. Tuesday was the last day of the declared three-day programme. In the morning, the protesters blocked the Dhaka-Barishal highway for nearly two hours by placing electric poles and tree logs. Traffic resumed around 9:30 am after the blockades were removed. A large number of law enforcers, including army, BGB, RAB and police, were deployed across the area for patrols. Expressing concern over the ongoing movement, local Ibrahim Khan demanded the unconditional release of Algir Union Parishad Chairman MM Siddiq Mia, withdrawal of ‘false cases,’ an end to night-time harassment by law enforcers, no filing of new cases, and reinstatement of Algir and Hamirdi unions under Faridpur-4. The trouble began on September 4 when the Election Commission issued a gazette notification reassigning Algir and Hamirdi unions of Bhanga from Faridpur-4 to Faridpur-2 constituency. The following day, locals launched highway blockades and they again blocked highways and the Dhaka-Khulna railway line on September 9 and 10. Constituency demarcation: Protesters vandalise police station, govt offices in Faridpur

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police for Dhaka Range Rezaul Karim Mallick has said that those responsible for the violence in Bhanga upazila of Faridpur district will be brought to book. “We will undoubtedly bring the fascists to justice. I have instructed the authorities concerned to arrest those involved in the violence. The real perpetrators behind the attack will be identified and brought under legal action,” he told a press briefing at Bhanga Police Station Complex around midnight. Steps are being taken to ensure public safety and law and order, he added. “We have spoken with the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Faridpur regarding Monday’s incident, the law and order situation and public safety. We have also talked with the people who were on duty during the violence,” the DIG said. Mallick also mentioned that four to five police personnel were injured during the incident. Constituency demarcation: Protesters vandalise police station, govt offices in Faridpur “Legal action will be taken against those involved in Monday’s attack. We are doing everything necessary to maintain public security,” he added. Referring to the damages caused by the attack, the DIG said the district police have been tasked with assessing the losses at Bhanga Police Station, while the Deputy Commissioner has been assigned to evaluate the damages at the Upazila Parishad. Meanwhile, Faridpur Deputy Commissioner Quamrul Hasan Molla said, “We have talked with the Election Commission, expressing the public's emotions and sentiments through a report. The commission will review it.” He also mentioned that a writ petition has been filed with the High Court over the alleged redrawing of two union boundaries, with the hearing expected on September 21. The DC urged Bhanga residents to remain calm and step back from protest programmes. “We understand people's emotions. We are working on these concerns. I again urge the residents of Bhanga to wait patiently for the legal process to unfold and refrain from any further protest programmes. You have a good reputation—please ensure no harm comes to the public,” he said. Regarding the extent of the damage, the DC said a full on-site assessment would be conducted and detailed information shared later. Earlier, on Monday, protesters went on a rampage in Bhanga upazila of Faridpur district opposing the demarcation of the Faridpur-4 constituency by the Election Commission. They vandalised Bhanga Police Station, the Upazila Parishad building, a highway police outpost and the Bhanga municipality building, and set the local Election Commission office and several vehicles on fire.  

Locals continued blocking highways and railways for the fifth consecutive day on Sunday in Bhanga upazila of Faridpur district in protest against the demarcation of the Faridpur-4 constituency by the Election Commission. Detective, meanwhile, detained a coordinator of the movement late on Saturday night. The protest began at 6am on Sunday, with residents staging demonstrations in several areas, including Pukhuria, by burning tyres and logs on the roads to disrupt traffic. At around 9am, protesters stopped the Nakshikatha train at Hamirdi railway crossing on the Rajbari–Faridpur–Dhaka line, forcing passengers to disembark. Expressing frustration over the disruption, passenger Bachchu Matubber from Rasulpur village in Saltha upazila of Faridpur said he was forced to get off while travelling to Dhaka with a sack of onions for his daughter. “There was no bus available, so I took the train to Dhaka. But when we reached the crossing at Hamirdi, the roads were on fire and many people were standing in front of the train. It had to stop, and we were made to get off,” he added. Many other passengers shared similar experiences due to the protest. Bhanga Railway Station Officer Sakibur Rahman said the train heading towards Dhaka from Rajbari was halted, causing the Sundarban Express coming from Dhaka to Rajbari also to stop at Bhanga Junction. Protesters block roads in Bagerhat and Faridpur over seat changes

Gazipur representatives on Tuesday showered praise on the Election Commission (EC) during the hearings on constituency demarcation for the initiative to increase the number of parliamentary seats in the district from five to six. But representatives from Manikganj and Munshiganj demanded raising the number of parliamentary seats in their districts to four from the existing three. Besides, most petitioners from Dohar, Nabanganj, Savar and Ashulia upazilas of Dhaka sought separate parliamentary seats with their respective upazilas as the seats were before the 2001 general election, while several petitioners from Nababganj raised views against any possible split of the upazila during the final demarcation of constituencies ahead of the next national election. Earlier on Monday, representatives from Bagerhat district criticised the EC for reducing the number of parliamentary seats from four to three in the recent draft delimitation of the 300 constituencies, which brought boundary changes in 39 constituencies. The Election Commission on Sunday (August 24) began hearings on the re-demarcation of parliamentary constituencies that will continue till August 27 to dispose of objections and recommendations ahead of the 13th parliamentary election planned for February 2026. During Tuesday’s hearing, chaired by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin, Gazipur representatives expressed gratitude for the move to raise the number of constituencies to six in their district. The hearing was held from 10am to 5pm at the city’s Nirbachan Bhaban to settle 309 petitions – 259 against the EC’s move and 50 backing the EC’s initiative – over 28 constituencies of six districts in Dhaka region. Four other election commissioners – Abdur Rahmanel Masud, Tahmida Ahmad, Md Anwarul Islam Sarker, and Brig Gen (retd) Abdul Fazal Md Sanaullah – were also present at the hearing, conducted by the EC Senior Secretary. “Our long-standing expectation is that the number of constituencies in Gazipur would be increased,” said BNP leader AKM Fazlul Haque Milon, also a former MP from Gazipur-3 constituency. Praising the current EC, he said the CEC and other commissioners stand first in terms of honesty, sincerity, and dedication compared to any time in the past. “We are grateful for the generosity you have shown to the people of Gazipur. You have made a timely decision.” Milon assured the commission of all-out support for holding a free and fair election, saying, “We will stand by you and extend all possible assistance. Be it movement or struggle for just causes, we will respond and cooperate with the EC in establishing people’s rights.” In response, EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said, “We are blessed that you’ve come.” Coming out of the hearing, Gazipur City BNP general secretary M Manjurul Karim Rony said several participants placed minor demands for including certain police stations and wards in specific constituencies. “The rest were in favour of the EC. We have expressed our gratitude to the commission for increasing the seats.” District BNP convener AKM Fazlul Haque Milon told reporters that Gazipur’s constituencies had been increased to six from five. “We congratulated the EC and expressed our gratitude. We had some minor demands, which were presented very politely.” Meanwhile, representatives from Manikganj and Munshiganj districts demanded that the number of parliamentary seats in their districts be restored to four from the existing three, as it was before the 2008 delimitation. Manikganj representative Barrister Khairul Alam Chowdhury said that until 2001, there were four constituencies in Manikganj, but in 2008 the number was curtailed to three, which reduced representation in Parliament. “Since there are only three seats, allocations for Manikganj have also decreased. We have highlighted the rationale for restoring four seats,” he said. Manikganj District BNP convener Afroza Khanam Rita said she came to the EC as a representative of the common people of Manikganj. “The demand for four seats, like in 2001, is shared by people from all walks of life in Manikganj,” she said. A representative identifying himself as the chief coordinator of Munshiganj Nagorik Andolan said Munshiganj now has three seats. “We have demanded to increase the number of seats to four, as in 2001. We have also highlighted the issue of voting rights for expatriates,” he added. During the hearing, the Dohar and Nawabganj parliamentary constituency (Dhaka-1 and 2) restoration committee convener Md Humayun Kabir said the number of seats in Dhaka was increased from 13 to 20 before the 2008 national election. “Due to the conversion of two constituencies of Doha and Nawabganj into one (Dhaka-1) constituency, the large area did get no touch of development in the last 17 years,” he said. Humayun said Dohar and Nawabganj are separate and independent administrative areas with eight unions and one municipality in Dohar and 14 unions in Nawabganj. The combined area of the two upazilas is over 400 square kilometres. “So, it is difficult for one MP to take care of such a large area,” he said, expressing optimism that the EC would give back the two constituencies for the two upazilas. On July 30, the EC published a draft delimitation of the 300 constituencies, bringing boundary changes in 39 constituencies across 14 districts. As per the draft, Gazipur’s constituencies have been increased from five to six, while Bagerhat’s have been reduced from four to three. The 39 constituencies affected are: Panchagarh-1 and 2, Rangpur-3, Sirajganj-1 and 2, Satkhira-3 and 4, Shariatpur-2 and 3, Dhaka-2, 3, 7, 10, 14 and 19, Gazipur-1, 2, 3, 5 and 6, Narayanganj-3, 4 and 5, Sylhet-1 and 3, Brahmanbaria-2 and 3, Comilla-1, 2, 10 and 11, Noakhali-1, 2, 4 and 5, Chittagong-7 and 8, and Bagerhat-2 and 3. Following the draft, the commission received around 1,760 applications concerning 83 constituencies. The EC heard some 811 petitions – 429 opposing and 382 supporting its move – regarding 18 constituencies of six districts in Cumilla region on Sunday, while 513 petitions – 238 opposing and 275 supporting – were heard on Monday over 20 constituencies in nine districts across Chattogram, Khulna and Barishal regions. On Tuesday, petitions regarding 28 constituencies of six districts --- Manikganj, Munshiganj, Gazipur, Narayanganj, Narsingdi and Dhaka were heard, while petitions concerning 18 constituencies of 12 districts in Rangpur, Rajshahi, Sylhet and Dhaka regions are scheduled for Wednesday. After the conclusion of hearings on August 27, the EC will publish the final delimitation of constituencies as the national election is due in February 2026.