Parties oppose EC's plan to split Narayanganj Bandar Upazila in new seat map

Local leaders warn the plan will disrupt administrative efficiency, undermine geographical integrity, and weaken accountability

Narayanganj’s parliamentary map could see significant changes under draft recommendations from the Election Commission (EC), with all major parties objecting to the proposed division of the Bandar Upazila.

The draft demarcation plan would alter the boundaries of Narayanganj-3, Narayanganj-4, and Narayanganj-5 constituencies. Currently, the Bandar Upazila falls entirely within Narayanganj-5, but the EC’s proposal would split it into two, attaching one part to Narayanganj-3 and the other to Narayanganj-5.

Local political leaders say the move violates the Delimitation of Constituencies Act, 2021, which requires that geographical integrity, administrative convenience, and practical distribution be respected. They warned about the adverse effects of dividing a river-surrounded area into two separate constituencies.

At present, Narayanganj-3 covers the Sonargaon Upazila. The new plan would merge five unions from Bandar with one municipality and 10 unions of Sonargaon.

Under the proposal, Narayanganj-5 would lose the Gognagar and Alirtek unions of the Sadar Upazila, but gain nine wards from Siddhirganj in the Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC). The EC has also suggested making all 27 NCC wards part of Narayanganj-5.

Narayanganj-4, which currently comprises nine Siddhirganj wards along with five unions from the Sadar Upazila, would instead absorb the Alirtek and Gognagar unions. This would see the Siddhirganj wards shifted into Narayanganj-5.

Election Commissioner Md Anwarul Islam Sarker told reporters on Jul 30 that claims and objections over the proposed 300 constituencies can be submitted until Aug 10.

The BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and other political groups in Narayanganj have lodged objections to the EC's proposal to divide Bandar Upazila between two constituencies.

Local leaders warned that the plan would disrupt administrative efficiency, undermine geographical integrity, and weaken accountability. Residents have also staged protests and submitted petitions calling for the Upazila to remain intact.