Parties oppose EC's plan to split N'ganj Bandar upazila

Narayanganj's parliamentary map could undergo significant changes under the Election Commission's (EC) draft recommendations, with all major parties voicing objections to the proposed division of the Bandar upazila, reports bdnews24.com.

The draft demarcation plan would redraw the boundaries of Narayanganj-3, Narayanganj-4, and Narayanganj-5 constituencies. At present, the Bandar upazila lies entirely within Narayanganj-5, but under the EC's proposal, it would be split it into two parts, one attached to Narayanganj-3 and the other remaining with Narayanganj-5.

Local political leaders argued that the move breaches the Delimitation of Constituencies Act, 2021, which mandates preserving geographical integrity, ensuring administrative convenience, and maintaining practical distribution of areas. They warned that splitting a river-surrounded area into two separate constituencies could lead to serious administrative and logistical challenges.

At present, Narayanganj-3 covers the Sonargaon upazila. Under the new plan, five unions from Bandar would be merged with one municipality and 10 unions of Sonargaon. Meanwhile, 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 proposed including all 27 NCC wards within Narayanganj-5.

Narayanganj-4, which currently include nine Siddhirganj wards along with five unions from the Sadar upazila, would instead absorb the Alirtek and Gognagar unions under the proposal, while Siddhirganj wards would be transferred to Narayanganj-5.

Election Commissioner Md Anwarul Islam Sarker told reporters on July 30 that claims and objections regarding the proposed 300 constituencies can be submitted until August 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 They submitted petitions demanding that the upazila remains intact.