Locals and political activists enforced blockades and hartals in Pabna, Faridpur and Bagerhat on Sunday morning, protesting against the Election Commission’s revision of constituency boundaries. The demonstrations, particularly in Faridpur, have caused huge sufferings for other people.

On many occasions, BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami leaders are leading the protests, claiming the reduction in constituency areas would harm their “administrative, political and economic rights.”

The demonstrators demanded restoration of the pre-September boundaries. On 4 September, the Election Commission issued the final gazette on new boundaries after settling potential disputes with major political parties.

In Faridpur, demonstrators severed Dhaka’s road communication with 21 northwestern districts for the fifth day. They blocked railways and the Dhaka-Khulna as well as Dhaka-Barishal highways. A large number of police and army personnel has been deployed in the district.

Demonstrations will continue till Tuesday, causing huge sufferings for travelers.

In Pabna, BNP-led groups have enforced a dawn-to-dusk hartal and a waterway blockade demanding restoration of the original boundaries for Pabna-1 and Pabna-2 constituencies.

In Bagerhat, political activists blocked entry to the Election Commission’s district office and the district administrator’s office. The blockade will continue till 4pm, except in the Sadar Upazila where a meeting on law and order is scheduled at 11am.

Hartals have also been called in the district for three straight days starting Monday.