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Published : 15 Sep 2025, 02:21 PM
Demonstrations over the redrawing of parliamentary constituencies in Faridpur’s Bhanga have turned violent as protesters vandalised the local police station and set fire to the Upazila council building to press for the restoration of the old boundaries.
The unrest broke out during pre-announced protests on Monday when demonstrators stormed the Bhanga Police Station, smashed vehicles, and later torched the council office despite tight security in the area.
Faridpur Superintendent of Police Md Abdul Jalil warned of stern action if the situation continues to escalate.
“We support peaceful protests, but if it leads to public suffering, we will act against it,” he said.
In a gazette published on Aug 4, the Election Commission redrew the district's electoral map, moving Algi and Hamirdi unions from Faridpur-4 to neighbouring Faridpur-2.
In protest, locals have staged three rounds of blockades on the Dhaka-Khulna and Dhaka-Barishal highways, as well as railway lines over the past five days, causing untold suffering for people across 21 districts in southern Bangladesh.
The latest blockade lasted from morning to evening on Sunday.
Amid the continuing protests in Bhanga, police on Sunday filed a case over disruption of law and order, naming 90 people and another 150 unidentified people as suspects.
The key suspect is MM Siddique Mia, chairman of Algi Union Parishad and chief coordinator of the "Sarbadaliyo Oikya Parishad" formed to spearhead the movement.
Protesters have announced further blockade programmes for Monday and Tuesday. In line with the pre-declared programme, demonstrators blocked two points on the Dhaka-Barishal and Dhaka-Khulna highways on Monday, bringing traffic to a halt.
The constituency boundary protests have now spread across all of Bhanga Upazila. While residents of Algi and Hamirdi unions had been leading the demonstrations so far, thousands from other unions have now joined in, marching with sticks and clubs and gathering in front of Bhanga Sadar Hospital from 11am.
Overwhelmed by the crowd, the administration withdrew from the streets.
Protesters vandalised at least five vehicles belonging to Bhanga Police Station. Several people were reportedly injured in the clashes after being struck by stones and bricks thrown during the unrest.
