Writ filed to restore 2 unions of Bhanga to Faridpur-4 constituency

A writ petition has been filed in the High Court challenging the Election Commission’s notification that transferred Algi and Hamirdi unions of Bhanga Upazila from the Faridpur-4 parliamentary constituency to Faridpur-2.

The petition was submitted on Tuesday by five individuals, including BNP’s nomination hopeful for Faridpur-4, Md. Shahidul Islam Babul, and Supreme Court lawyer Mahbubur Rahman Dulal. Barrister Mohammad Humayun Kabir Pallab represented the petitioners in court.

Prior to filing the petition, a legal notice was served to the Election Commission demanding the withdrawal of the notification within 48 hours. Receiving no response, the petitioners approached the High Court seeking cancellation of the notification.

In response to the move, residents of Bhanga staged a highway blockade protesting the decision to merge the two unions with Faridpur-2.

The blockade, which began at around 8:15 am Tuesday, caused severe traffic congestion on the Dhaka-Khulna and Dhaka-Barisal highways, creating a 23-kilometer-long traffic jam. As a result, road communication between Dhaka and 21 southwestern districts was effectively halted.

Protesters gathered at key points including Pukuria and Madhabpur bus stands in Hamirdi union along the Dhaka-Barisal highway, as well as Munsurabad bus stand and the Suyadi area of Algi union on the Dhaka-Khulna highway. They set tires ablaze, blocked roads with bamboo and wood, and placed sleeping platforms to enforce the blockade.

Traffic jams stretched 12 kilometers from Talmar Mor to Pukuria, 3 kilometers from Bhanga Southpara to Tekherhat, 6 kilometers from Milligram to Bhanga on the Dhaka-Khulna Expressway, and 2 kilometers from Suyadi to Joy Bangla Mor.

Hundreds of passenger buses, trucks, and private vehicles were stranded, causing significant hardship for thousands of commuters.

Local residents expressed strong opposition to dividing Bhanga, stating, “We are people of Bhanga, and we want to remain in Bhanga.”

The Election Commission’s gazette notification dated September 4 merged Algi and Hamirdi unions of Bhanga Upazila with Faridpur-2, which includes Nagar Kanda and Saltha areas, sparking the current unrest.