Bangladesh polls: Lines redrawn, but 22 upazilas still stranded between two seats
After months of hearings and revisions, the Election Commission has managed to shave the tally of 'split' administrative units by just one, leaving pockets of voters caught between two seats as the 13th national polls loom
The long-awaited redrawing of Bangladesh's 300 parliamentary constituencies promised a cleaner map, yet for at least 22 upazilas the boundary lines still cut straight through their heart.
After months of hearings and revisions, the Election Commission has managed to shave the tally of "split" administrative units by just one, leaving pockets of voters caught between two seats as the 13th national polls loom.
The Election Commission on 4 September issued a gazette notification finalising the delimitation, which brought changes to the boundaries of 46 constituencies across 16 districts ahead of the national election, scheduled for early February 2026.
The 22 upazilas that remain divided among more than one constituency are Ranisankail of Thakurgaon, Sirajganj Sadar, Chuadanga Sadar, Jhenaidah Sadar, Jashore Sadar, Magura Sadar, Narail Sadar, Digholia of Khulna, Manikganj Sadar, Keraniganj and Savar of Dhaka, Gazipur Sadar, Narsingdi Sadar, Bhanga of Faridpur, Kashiani of Gopalganj, Madaripur Sadar, Vedarganj of Shariatpur, Bijoynagar of Brahmanbaria, Sonaimuri of Noakhali, Noakhali Sadar, Lakshmipur Sadar, and Satkania of Chattogram.
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Of them, three upazilas – Bhanga, Bijoynagar and Noakhali Sadar – were freshly split into two constituencies. Conversely, four previously divided upazilas – Bera of Pabna, Kaliganj of Satkhira, Narayanganj Sadar and Boalkhali of Chattogram – were integrated into single constituencies in the new delimitation.
During the re-demarcation, the Election Commission considered three factors: administrative convenience, compactness of area and the number of voters.
Before the delimitation, the Election Commission said every constituency would have on average 4.2 lakh voters – the average figure would be 4.22 lakh for Dhaka and Chattogram cities and 4.18 lakh for other areas.
Per Article 6(2) of the Delimitation of Constituencies Ordinance, 1976, the constituencies shall be so delimited, having regard to administrative convenience, that each constituency is a compact area and in doing so due regard shall be had, as far as practicable, to the distribution of population as given in the latest census report.
People in several areas, including Bagerhat, Faridpur and Brahmanbaria, have protested the new boundaries. The last census, published in 2022, recorded the country's population at nearly 170 million. Based on this, the constituency-wise average population could be more than 550,000. With around 126 million voters in the country, the average number of voters per constituency is more than 4.2 lakh.
The current commission headed by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin has re-demarcated 46 constituencies: Panchagarh-1 and 2, Rangpur-1 and 3, Sirajganj-1 and 2, Pabna-1 and 2, Bagerhat-1, 2 and 3, Satkhira-2, 3 and 4, Manikganj-2 and 3, Dhaka-2, 4, 5, 7, 10 and 14, Gazipur-1, 2, 3, 5 and 6, Narayanganj-3, 4 and 5, Faridpur-2 and 4, Shariatpur-2 and 3, Brahmanbaria-2 and 3, Cumilla-1, 2, 6 and 10, Noakhali-1, 2, 4 and 5, and Chattogram-7 and 8.
In the final delimitation, the number of constituencies in Gazipur rose from five to six, while Bagerhat's fell from four to three.
Delimitations under current and previous commissions
Earlier, on 30 July, the Election Commission had published a draft delimitation of the 300 constituencies, proposing boundary changes in 39 constituencies across 14 districts. In the draft delimitation, six constituencies were also proposed for Gazipur district, reducing the number of parliamentary seats to three in Bagerhat.
Following the draft publication, the commission received some 1,893 applications containing claims, complaints and suggestions over 84 constituencies.
Then the Election Commission arranged a four-day hearing on the claims, objections and recommendations regarding the re-demarcation of parliamentary constituencies on 24-27 August.
The previous commission, headed by Kazi Habibul Awal, had re-demarcated 10 constituencies ahead of the 12th national election, while the KM Nurul Huda-led commission had changed the boundaries of 25 constituencies ahead of the 2018 general election, and the Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad-headed commission had redrawn the boundaries of 87 constituencies ahead of the 10th parliamentary polls.
In 2008, the ATM Shamsul Huda-led commission had made massive changes in 133 constituencies before the ninth general election.
According to Article 7 of the 1976 ordinance, the validity of any delimitation or formation of constituencies, or of any proceedings taken under the authority of the Commission, cannot be challenged in any court or other authority.
