Faridpur agitation over constituency shift continue for third phase

Locals in Bhanga upazila of Faridpur continued protests today, blocking highways and railways over the inclusion of Algi and Hamirdi unions in Bhanga from parliamentary constituency number 4 to constituency number 2.

Since the morning of September 14, protesters have blocked eight points along the Dhaka-Khulna and Dhaka-Barishal highways in Bhanga, disrupting traffic between the capital and various districts.

This marks the third phase of the ongoing protests, which have caused significant disruption to both vehicular and rail traffic.

The demonstrators, led by local leaders including Algi Union Parishad Chairman M.M. Siddique, have vowed to continue their action until their demands are met.

Despite earlier assurances from local authorities, including the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) and the Officer-in-Charge (OC), who intervened during a previous blockade on September 13, the protesters have escalated their demands, stating that they will not end the blockade until the unions are restored to their previous constituency.

As part of the new programme, roads and railways in Bhanga Upazila will be blocked for three consecutive days from 6am to 6pm, beginning Sunday.

The ongoing protests have drawn a heavy security presence, including local police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Armed Police Battalion (APBN), and army personnel, who are attempting to manage the situation. Commuters and passengers have faced severe delays and disruptions due to the prolonged blockades.

This ongoing unrest stems from the reorganization of Faridpur’s constituencies in 2013, which led to changes in boundaries that included Bhanga Upazila being moved from Faridpur-5 to Faridpur-4. The current redelineation, which affects local political dynamics, has sparked anger among the residents, leading to the repeated protests.