Traffic on two major highways in Faridpur came to a standstill on Friday morning as residents of Bhanga upazila staged a large-scale protest against the government’s recent decision to reassign Algi and Hamirdi unions to Nagarkanda upazila.
The protests erupted after the Election Commission published a gazette on Thursday reassigning the two unions from Faridpur-4 to Faridpur-2 constituency. In response, locals blocked several points on the Faridpur-Barishal highway and surrounding roads from 8 a.m., using felled trees and burning tyres to obstruct traffic. Thousands of vehicles were stranded on both ends of the highways, causing significant disruption.
Eyewitnesses reported that blockades were set up at Pukuria, Suyadi, and Munsurabad, with large crowds gathering and chanting slogans. Protesters demanded the reinstatement of Algi and Hamirdi unions in the Faridpur-4 constituency and called for the re-establishment of the former Faridpur-5 constituency, which previously included all of Bhanga upazila.
The redistricting move is part of a broader redefinition of Bangladesh’s parliamentary constituencies ahead of the 13th national elections. However, the decision has sparked widespread dissatisfaction among local residents, who claim the reallocation is politically motivated and unfair.
Md Rokibuzzaman, officer-in-charge of Bhanga Highway Police Station, confirmed the protests, stating that demonstrators had blocked roads at key locations, including Pukuria Bus Stand, Hamirdi Bus Stand, and along the Dhaka-Mawa-Bhanga-Khulna Highway near Munsurabad.
“Traffic has been completely cut off on both the Faridpur-Barishal and Faridpur-Gopalganj routes for over three hours,” he added.