Faridpur protesters suspend blockade till Saturday

Protesters in Faridpur have temporarily suspended their ongoing blockade of highways and railways, which was initiated to protest the redrawing of parliamentary constituencies and demand the restoration of previous boundaries. The announcement came today, Tuesday, September 16.

According to sources, the decision to halt the blockade from Wednesday through Saturday was made following assurances from the District Commissioner and in consideration of the upcoming Durga Puja festival, to avoid public inconvenience. Protest leaders requested that roads be cleared starting from 12pm today.

The coordinating committee of the movement confirmed that no blockades will take place during this period. However, they warned that any attempt by law enforcement to harass protesters would prompt immediate retaliatory action. Furthermore, the protesters have stated that if their five-point demands are not met by next Sunday, they will resume continuous agitation.

On September 4, the Election Commission published the final list of boundaries for 300 parliamentary seats through a gazette notification. This included the transfer of Algi and Hamirdi unions of Bhanga Upazila from Faridpur-4 to Faridpur-2, a move that sparked local unrest.

Since the announcement, residents of Bhanga have staged various demonstrations. Two days ago, a three-day blockade of roads and railways began, with protesters blocking traffic from morning until evening.

Yesterday, the protest escalated into clashes when demonstrators blocked at least six points along the Dhaka-Khulna and Faridpur-Barishal highways around 11am. They set fires at multiple locations, halting traffic in both directions and disrupting transportation between Dhaka and 21 districts. Passengers, drivers, and freight carriers were severely affected.

Police efforts to regain control were met with resistance as protesters vandalized the Bhanga Police Station, Upazila Parishad office, Election Office, and other establishments, setting some on fire. Local sources reported several individuals were injured by gunfire during the confrontations. At least 1,200 law enforcement personnel have been deployed to restore order.