Impartiality maintained in seat demarcation

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M Nasir Uddin has said the Election Commission carried out the redrawing of parliamentary constituencies with professionalism and impartiality.

He said, “We have tried to work neutrally and professionally. As required by law, we provided the opportunity to raise objections and appeals over the draft boundaries, and we have taken your submissions into account.”

The CEC made the remarks on Sunday (Aug 24) during a hearing at the Election Commission Bhaban in Dhaka.

Hearings on objections will continue over the coming days. On August 25, sessions will be held on 98 objections from the Khulna region, 381 from Barishal, and 20 from Chattogram.

On August 26, 316 objections from Dhaka will be heard, followed by hearings on August 27 covering seven objections from Rangpur, 232 from Rajshahi, three from Mymensingh, 18 from Faridpur, and two from Sylhet.

By August 10, a total of 1,760 objections and appeals had been submitted to the Commission regarding boundaries in 83 constituencies. The EC will finalise the redistricting after settling these issues.

On July 30, the Commission published its draft redistricting of all 300 parliamentary seats. The proposal sought to bring greater balance to the number of voters across constituencies, increasing Gazipur’s seats from five to six and reducing Bagerhat’s seats from four to three.

In total, changes were proposed in 39 constituencies. These included 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.

The Commission invited objections to the draft until August 10. In Bagerhat, which previously had four constituencies, the draft proposed no changes to Bagerhat-1, but restructured the remaining three seats by merging and reallocating upazilas.

Election Commissioner Anowarul Islam Sarker explained that the average number of voters per constituency had been set at 420,500. Based on this formula, Gazipur warranted an additional seat, while Bagerhat, with fewer voters, lost one.

“Both districts have been affected by these adjustments, but elsewhere there are no major disputes,” he said, adding “Overall, adjustments were made in 39 constituencies.”