The Election Commission (EC) will begin hearings on constituency boundary disputes from Sunday (August 24), officials confirmed on Monday.
The process will start with 683 objections from the Cumilla region on August 24.
Hearings for other regions will follow: Khulna (98 cases), Barishal (381), and Chattogram (20) on August 25; Dhaka (316) on August 26; and Rangpur (7), Rajshahi (232), Mymensingh (3), Faridpur (18), and Sylhet (2) on August 27.
By August 10, the commission had received a total of 1,760 objections relating to 83 constituencies. Once the hearings are completed, the EC will finalise and publish the revised boundaries.
On July 30, the Election Commission released a draft delimitation of the country’s 300 parliamentary constituencies, aiming to ensure more equitable voter distribution.
Under the proposal, Gazipur’s constituencies would rise from five to six, while Bagerhat’s would be reduced from four to three.
In addition, changes were proposed in 39 other constituencies, including Panchagarh-1 and 2; Rangpur-3; Sirajganj-1 and 2; Satkhira-3 and 4; Shariatpur-2 and 3; Dhaka-2, 3, 7, 10, 14 and 19; Gazipur-1, 2, 3, 5 and 6; Narayanganj-3, 4 and 5; Sylhet-1 and 3; Brahmanbaria-2 and 3; Cumilla-1, 2, 10 and 11; Noakhali-1, 2, 4 and 5; Chattogram-7 and 8; and Bagerhat-2 and 3.
Previously, Bagerhat had four constituencies: Bagerhat-1 (Mollahat, Fakirhat, Chitalmari), Bagerhat-2 (Bagerhat Sadar and Kachua), Bagerhat-3 (Rampal and Mongla), and Bagerhat-4 (Morrelganj and Sharankhola). Under the draft, Bagerhat-1 remains unchanged, while Bagerhat-2 would include Bagerhat Sadar, Kachua, and Rampal, and Bagerhat-3 would comprise Mongla, Morrelganj, and Sharankhola.
Election Commissioner Anowarul Islam Sarker told reporters that the commission had fixed the average number of voters per constituency at 420,500.
He explained that this calculation led to an additional seat being allocated to Gazipur and one being removed from Bagerhat. “Both districts are affected, but there are no complications elsewhere. Adjustments have been made in 39 constituencies,” he said.
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