Constituency demarcation protests in Faridpur cut off Dhaka's road link with 21 southern districts

Faridpur turned volatile today (9 September) over the Election Commission's boundary demarcation, as demonstrators blocked Dhaka–Khulna and Faridpur–Bhanga highways, cutting off road transport between Dhaka and 21 southern districts. 

The agitation began after a gazette notification placed Algi and Hamirdi unions of Bhanga upazila under Nagarkanda upazila. 

Residents cut down trees and set tyres on fire at Hamirdi bus stand, Suyadi bus stand in Algi union, and several other points. Photos: TBS

From 8am, residents cut down trees and set tyres on fire at Hamirdi bus stand, Suyadi bus stand in Algi union, and several other points, halting traffic on both highways and creating tailbacks stretching several kilometres.

"We, the people of Bhanga upazila, are one family of 12 unions and one municipality. We do not accept the Election Commission's decision," protesters said. 

"We demand immediate reversal of the move and reinstatement of the two unions under Bhanga. Until then, the highways will remain blocked."

Locals set up roadblocks with felled trees and burning tyres. Photos: TBS

Bhanga Highway Police Officer-in-Charge Md Rokibuzzaman confirmed the blockade, saying, "Locals set up roadblocks with felled trees and burning tyres following the commission's decision to attach two unions of Bhanga to Nagarkanda."

As Faridpur remained on edge, locals blocked the Dhaka-Khulna and Faridpur-Bhanga highways. Taking advantage of the empty streets, young cricketers turned the highway into a playground, hitting sixes and boundaries as protesters cheered them on.

Photos from Bhanga upazila’s Suadi Bishwa Road area show the unusual sight of a cricket match being played on the deserted highway. Photo: TBS

"This is a unique form of protest. We cannot accept our union being shifted to another upazila. Through this game, we are showing solidarity with the movement," said one of the players.

Photo: TBS

Due to the blockade, long queues of vehicles remained stranded, though protesters allowed ambulances and emergency service vehicles to pass.

Meanwhile, a man named Habibur Rahman Hobi, 55, died this morning in Faridpur's Bhanga upazila while protesting. 

His family claimed he suffered a heat stroke during the demonstration, though hospital officials and relatives gave conflicting accounts, with some saying he collapsed at his grocery shop.

Earlier on Friday, demonstrators cut off road links between Dhaka and the entire southern region for nearly seven hours. The blockade was lifted after authorities assured them of a three-day ultimatum.

Highway blocked in Brahmanbaria over constituency demarcation

Photo: TBS

Protests erupted in Brahmanbaria today (9 September) as the Sarbadaliya Oikya Parishad blocked the Dhaka-Sylhet highway, demonstrating against the Election Commission's decision to shift Budhanti and Chandura unions of Bijoynagar upazila from Brahmanbaria-3 (Sadar and Bijoynagar) constituency to Brahmanbaria-2 (Sarail and Ashuganj).

The demonstration, which ran from 11am to 11:30am, brought traffic to a halt and caused severe congestion on both sides of the highway. Leaders and activists of BNP, NCP, and Jamaat-e-Islami took part in the protest.

"The conspiracy over Brahmanbaria-2 constituency has started again. As part of this, two unions of Bijoynagar have been included in it. These unions must immediately be reinstated under Brahmanbaria-3," said the protesters.

They warned that unless their demand is met, tougher programmes, including road, waterway, and railway blockades, would follow.