Demarcation talks: Objections raised over Dhaka's 13 seats, call for keeping previous boundaries
A number of representatives advocated for maintaining the existing boundaries, arguing against any changes to the current electoral map.
The Election Commission (EC) yesterday (26 August) completed hearings on objections and recommendations regarding the re-demarcation of 13 parliamentary constituencies in Dhaka, marking the third day of such hearings.
During the session, a number of representatives advocated for maintaining the existing boundaries, arguing against any changes to the current electoral map.
EC Director (Public Relations) Md Shariful Alam, told reporters that a total of 309 applications concerning 28 constituencies in Dhaka were reviewed. "Of them, 259 opposed the draft boundaries while 50 were in favour."
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For Dhaka-1, which covers Dohar and Nawabganj, the EC kept the same boundary as in the previous election.
However, one group of representatives opposed this draft, while another expressed satisfaction with the EC's decision. A group of locals, under the banner of "People of all walks of life in Dohar and Nawabganj Upazila," demanded that the Dhaka-1 constituency not be reorganised.
Demanding that Dohar and Nawabganj be made two separate constituencies, Md Humayun Kabir, convener of the Dohar and Nawabganj Parliamentary Constituencies (Dhaka-1 and 2) Restoration Committee, said before 2008, in all previous elections, Dhaka-1 consisted of Dohar Upazila and Dhaka-2 of Nawabganj Upazila.
He argued that it is difficult for a single representative to represent such a large constituency.
Meanwhile, after the hearing, Advocate Khalilur Rahman said, "Separating Dohar would obstruct development work and could delay the election. We hope the boundaries will be kept as they were before."
Similarly, some representatives from the Kamrangirchar area raised objections to the proposed boundaries of Dhaka-2, demanding the reinstatement of the previous boundaries.
Yesterday, the hearing for demands and objections for Dhaka-1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 14, 15, 16, 18, and 19 constituencies took place at the Nirbachan Bhaban in Agargaon from 2:30pm to 5:00pm.
Dhaka-16 constituency is composed of wards 2, 3, 5, and 6 of Dhaka North City Corporation. Dhaka-18 constituency consists of wards 1, 17, and 43 to 54 of Dhaka North City Corporation, along with the airport area.
The people of Turag also demanded that Turag not be moved from Dhaka-18 and attached to Dhaka-16.
The EC began hearings on the re-demarcation of parliamentary constituencies on Sunday, which will continue until 27 August to address objections and recommendations ahead of the 13th parliamentary election planned for February 2026.
Yesterday's hearing was chaired by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin.
Four other election commissioners — Abdur Rahmanel Masud, Tahmida Ahmad, Md Anwarul Islam Sarker, and Brig Gen (retd) Abdul Fazal Md Sanaullah — were also present, and the hearing was conducted by the EC senior secretary.
Tomorrow, hearings will be held for seven demands from Rangpur, 232 from Rajshahi, 3 from Mymensingh, 18 from Faridpur, and 2 from the Sylhet region. After the hearings, the EC will publish the final boundaries.
