Locals blocked the Dhaka–Sylhet highway from 11:00am on Sunday, protesting the Election Commission's move to redraw the boundary of Brahmanbaria-2 and Brahmanbaria-3 constituencies.
Demonstrators under the banner of the Shorbo Dolio Shangram Parishad, including leaders and activists from the BNP, NCP, and Hefazat-e-Islam, gathered at the Chandura Bus Stand area of Bijoynagar upazila, creating a tailback stretching at least 10 kilometres, with severe congestion reported on both sides of the road.
The protest came as the EC last Thursday published the final gazette removing Chandura and Budhanti unions of Bijoynagar upazila from Brahmanbaria-3 (Sadar and Bijoynagar) constituency and added them to Brahmanbaria-2 (Sarail and Ashuganj) constituency.
Imam Hossain, president of the Shorbo Dolio Sangram Parishad, said the transfer of Chandura and Budhanti to Brahmanbaria-2 is part of a conspiracy regarding Bijoynagar. As a result of the redemarcation, the two unions will be affected administratively and economically, he said.
The speakers at the protest demanded that the two unions would be reinstated in their former constituency.
NCP Senior Joint Chief Organiser Md Ataullah, Central Chhatra Dal Vice President Ashiq Rahman and Bijoynagar Upazila General Secretary of Hefazat-e-Islam Afzal Hossain also joined the protest.
On 24 August, the EC organised a hearing at the auditorium of its Agargaon headquarters over the boundary demarcation of two Brahmanbaria constituencies.
During the session, a clash broke out between supporters of BNP nomination-aspirant Rumeen Farhana from Brahmanbaria-2 and Khaled Mahbub Hossain Shyamol, BNP's district president and nomination-aspirant for Brahmanbaria-3.
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