Bangladesh: Protestors besiege local election office over constituency cuts
Protests Heat Up in Bangladesh Over Constituency Changes
In Bangladesh’s Bagerhat district, angry protesters have surrounded the local election office for the third straight day. They’re demanding that the district keeps its original four parliamentary constituencies, which the Election Commission recently slashed to three. The group, known as the Sorbodolio Sommilito Committee or All-Party Joint Committee, pitched tents and held a sit-in protest starting early Thursday morning. More people joined from nearby areas with small marches, as local media outlets like UNB reported.
The demonstrators promise they won’t call for any strikes or blockades before the upcoming Durga Puja festival. But they’re digging in, vowing to keep the sit-in going until officials meet their demands. MA Salam, the committee’s co-convenor and head of Bagerhat’s BNP chapter, told UNB: "We’ve filed a petition in the High Court, and they’ve given us a 10-day initial order. We’ll push forward until we win. If needed, we’ll ramp up with non-cooperation drives."
This all kicked off on September 4 when the Election Commission released a gazette notification. It redrew boundaries for 46 constituencies across Bangladesh, cutting Bagerhat’s seats from four to three. Since then, locals have hit the streets with blockades, sit-ins, and rallies, all calling to reinstate the old setup.
The High Court stepped in earlier this week, issuing a rule on Tuesday. It questions why Bagerhat shouldn’t stick with four constituencies and demands the EC explain why their notification isn’t illegal. According to The Business Standard, citing court sources, the EC and other officials must reply within 10 days.
These aren’t isolated incidents. Last week, similar protests erupted in other parts of Bangladesh after the EC announced constituency cuts ahead of the February 2026 general elections. In Faridpur’s Bhanga upazila, residents started a three-day road and rail blockade on September 14. They oppose moving Algi and Hamirdi unions from Faridpur-4 to Faridpur-2.
Over in Pabna’s Bera upazila, people launched a full-day protest from dawn to dusk, blocking roads and river routes. They’re furious about Bera upazila getting removed from the Pabna-1 constituency.
Bangladesh has seen a wave of protests and unrest since last year’s violent uprising toppled the Awami League government led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. As tensions build over these election boundary changes, locals hope the courts and EC will listen before things escalate further.
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