Protesters in Brahmanbaria lift highway blockade on Dhaka-Sylhet road during the second hour after receiving assurance
In the heart of Bijoynagar, a peaceful protest led by the "Sorbo Doliyo Sangram Parisahd" caused a significant disruption on August 20, 2022. The protest, which took place at the Chandura Bus Stand area, aimed to oppose the proposed re-demarcation of the Brahmanbaria-2 constituency by the Election Commission (EC).
The blockade, which lasted until around 1pm, resulted in a 20-kilometer long tailback of vehicles on the Dhaka-Sylhet highway. The traffic congestion, combined with an ongoing development project on the highway, made travel from Bishwa Road intersection in Brahmanbaria to Ashuganj roundabout take several hours. The suffering of passengers was immense due to heavy traffic congestion and sweltering heat, which stretched beyond Madhabpur Bus Stand in Habiganj district.
The protesters demanded that the decision to redraw the constituency boundaries must be immediately cancelled and all unions of Bijoynagar must remain included within the Brahmanbaria-3 constituency. They argued that separating three unions of Bijoynagar and merging them with the Brahmanbaria-2 constituency will cause administrative and economic harm, and deprive local residents of development.
According to Bijoynagar police station OC Shahidul Islam, a hearing on the protesters' demands will be held at the Election Commission on 24 August. The convener, Imam Hossain, stated that if their demands are not met, the protestors have threatened to launch tougher protest programmes such as railway blockades.
Joint Conveners Maulana Afzal Hossain and Rafiqul Islam, among others, also spoke during the protest. They expressed their concerns about the potential impact of the boundary changes on the local community and called for a fair resolution.
Following assurances from the administration, the blockade was lifted, allowing traffic on the highway to return to normal. However, the slow movement on the highway continued due to the traffic congestion caused by the ended blockade.
The decision to redraw the constituency boundaries has sparked an outcry among local residents and political leaders. The ongoing development project on the Dhaka-Sylhet highway has already slowed traffic in Brahmanbaria, making the situation even more challenging.
As the Election Commission prepares for the hearing on August 24, the local community waits with bated breath for a resolution to this contentious issue. The protest at Chandura Bus Stand serves as a reminder of the importance of considering the needs and concerns of local communities in political decision-making processes.
Read also:
- United States tariffs pose a threat to India, necessitating the recruitment of adept negotiators or strategists, similar to those who had influenced Trump's decisions.
- Weekly happenings in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Southwest region's most popular posts, accompanied by an inquiry:
- Discussion between Putin and Trump in Alaska could potentially overshadow Ukraine's concerns
