Pabna, Sept 21 (V7N) — Hundreds of residents of Bera Upazila staged a protest and human chain in front of the main gate of the Pabna Deputy Commissioner’s office on Sunday noon, voicing their opposition to the recent redistricting of the Pabna-1 parliamentary constituency.
 
The demonstrators carried banners and placards demanding the restoration of the previous constituency boundaries. A memorandum was submitted to the Deputy Commissioner and the local Election Officer, urging reconsideration of the Election Commission’s decision.
 
According to the protesters, Pabna-1 historically included both Bera and Santhia Upazilas. Recently, the Election Commission issued a notification separating Santhia from Bera, assigning Bera to Pabna-2 along with Sujanagar Upazila, affecting approximately 323,000 voters. Residents claim the decision ignores historical, social, and economic ties between the two upazilas and constitutes an unjust boundary arrangement.
 
Fazlur Rahman Fakir, President of Bera Municipal BNP and leader of the protest committee, stated, “Bera and Santhia have always been closely linked since independence, in politics, society, and business. This separation is politically motivated and unjust. We will continue our peaceful struggle until the constituency boundaries are restored.”
 
Other leaders present included Saluddin Iqbal, Organizational Secretary Aksed Ali, Joint Secretary Moinul Haq, former Deputy Convener Moinuddin Khaja, and Bera Municipal Jubo Dal leader Nayon Ali. The protest lasted from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm, after which a delegation submitted the memorandum to the Election Officer for further consideration.
 
The residents have warned of continued demonstrations until their demand for the reversal of the new constituency arrangement is met.
 
END/MSR/SMA/