A scuffle broke out between participants during the first day of hearings on the parliamentary constituency boundaries of Brahmanbaria-2 and 3 in front of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A.M.M. Nasir Uddin and other election commissioners.
The hearing began on Sunday (24 August) at 12:00 pm in the auditorium of the Election Commission building in Agargaon, Dhaka, focusing on objections and claims regarding the boundaries for the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election.
The session was presided over by CEC Nasir Uddin, with other commissioners and the EC Secretary also present.
Tensions flared after the draft boundaries for Brahmanbaria-2 and 3 were published, leading to submissions both in support of and against the draft.
At one point, the two sides became agitated, resulting in a physical altercation. Election Commission officials intervened to control the situation.
The EC Secretary later concluded the hearing for these two constituencies and requested the participants to leave the room.
During the hearing, Barrister Rumin Farhana presented arguments supporting the draft, while several others voiced objections.
Those opposing the draft argued that three unions from Bijoynagar Upazila—Budhasti, Chandua, and Harshpur—were added to Brahmanbaria-2, and they demanded that their upazila remain intact.
Outside the EC building, protests continued, prompting police to remove a group of demonstrators from the gate. Water cannons were also prepared outside as a precaution.
At the start of the session, CEC Nasir Uddin emphasized that the commission had acted professionally and impartially, providing an opportunity for objections according to the law, and assured that all submissions would be considered during the hearings.
The Election Commission is scheduled to hear claims and objections from the Comilla region on the first day.
According to the EC’s announced schedule, hearings from 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm will cover Brahmanbaria-2, 3, and 5; 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm for Comilla-6, 9, 10, and 11; and 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm for Noakhali-1, 2, 4, and 5, Chandpur-2 and 3, Feni-3, and Laxmipur-2 and 3. The hearings will continue until Wednesday.
