Dhaka Correspondent:
The common people are suffering due to the ongoing blockade over the demarcation of the parliamentary constituency in Faridpur. Home Affairs Advisor Lieutenant General (Retd.) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has issued a stern warning to deal with this situation. He clearly stated that if the blockade is not lifted by the afternoon, the law enforcement forces will remove the blockaders by force.
He said this in response to questions from journalists after the Core Committee meeting held at the Home Ministry conference room at the Secretariat on Sunday (September 14).
The advisor said, “No one has the right to block the road. The blockaders have taken millions of people hostage. This will not be tolerated in any way. If the blockade is not lifted by today, we will be forced to enforce the law.”
He said that the meeting discussed the overall law and order situation in the country in detail. The recent elections, police training, security preparations for the upcoming national elections, kidnapping, theft and robbery and the border situation were also discussed. In addition, the issue of tension created around the two unions of Puja and Faridpur also came up for discussion.
Regarding the delimitation, the advisor said, “The two unions of Faridpur have been added to another constituency from where they were previously in the parliamentary constituency. This is the decision of the Election Commission. The Election Commission took this decision after listening to the arguments. The government has no involvement here. If there is anger, it should have been conveyed through the appropriate channel. But no one has the right to create public suffering.”
He asked, “How many people and how many voters are there in these two unions? Yet, millions of people are suffering due to their movement. This will not be accepted under any circumstances.”
Meanwhile, unrest is prevailing not only in Faridpur but also in several other districts of the country over the issue of delimitation of parliamentary constituencies. Morning and evening hartals and road and sea port blockades are going on in Pabna’s Bera upazila. On the other hand, office and court blockade programs are going on in various places of the district demanding the restoration of Bagerhat-3 (Rampal-Mongla) constituency.
Government sources said that despite public anger over the boundaries, the Election Commission’s decision will remain in effect. However, any attempt to destabilize the law and order situation and hold the common people hostage will be dealt with firmly.