Constituency demarcation: Highways blocked in Faridpur, hartal observed in Bagerhat
Protesters have felled trees and set tires on fire to block the roads, severely disrupting traffic and causing immense suffering for commuters and locals alike
Protests over the Election Commission's new constituency boundary demarcation intensified today, with highways blocked in Faridpur for the fourth straight day and a dawn-to-dusk hartal observed in Bagerhat for the second day.
Protests continue for the fourth consecutive day in Faridpur over the recent boundary demarcation published in the gazette by the Election Commission. Since early morning, locals have blocked the Dhaka-Khulna and Faridpur-Bhanga highways in protest of the inclusion of Algi and Hamirdi unions under Nagarkanda upazila, removing them from Bhanga upazila.
Protesters have felled trees and set tires on fire to block the roads, severely disrupting traffic and causing immense suffering for commuters and locals alike.
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From today (11 September) morning, major points such as Hamirdi Bus Stand and Suyadi Bus Stand in Algi union, along with nearly 10 other spots, have seen complete road blockades. These actions have led to severe traffic congestion, stretching several kilometers on both highways.
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Bhanga Police Station Md Ashraf said while traffic is still moving on the Barishal highway for now, he warned that it too could be closed soon.
Protesters stated, "For the past 118 years, we have been part of Bhanga upazila. The 12 unions and one municipality of Bhanga are united like a family. We cannot accept the Election Commission's recent decision. Until the decision is reversed, we will continue to block the highways."
Although the movement is currently peaceful, they warned that an indefinite and more intense protest could follow if the demands are not met.
Due to the blockade, traffic on both major highways has come to a near halt. Except for emergency vehicles such as ambulances, no other vehicles are being allowed to pass.
It is worth noting that this is not the first instance of such disruption. Last Friday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evening, the same protestors cut off road connections between Dhaka and the southern districts, increasing public suffering significantly.
Locals are now urging the government for an immediate resolution to restore normalcy and prevent further chaos.
Hartal cuts off Bagerhat
Bagerhat has been virtually cut off from the rest of the country as protesters enforced a second consecutive day of hartal against the reduction of one of its four parliamentary seats.
Supporters blocked roads by setting fires, placing benches and tree trunks, and tying buses across highways at at least 134 points. As a result, inter-district transport has been paralysed, with long queues of trucks seen near the central bus stand, Daratana Bridge, Fatehpur and CNB markets.
Shops and businesses remained closed across the district, while river crossings were suspended, leaving hundreds of workers and passengers stranded.
"The suffering has multiplied at night as vehicles cannot move at all," locals said.
The movement began after the EC proposed on 30 July to reduce Bagerhat's seats from four to three. Despite residents attending hearings to demand the retention of all four constituencies, the EC published a final gazette on 4 September, confirming three seats.
According to the gazette, Bagerhat-1 now comprises Bagerhat Sadar, Chitalmari and Mollahat; Bagerhat-2 includes Fakirhat, Rampal and Mongla; and Bagerhat-3 covers Kachua, Morelganj and Sharankhola. Previously, elections were held in four seats, with different constituency boundaries.
