Hundreds of residents of Rammrail Union in Brahmanbaria Sadar blocked the Dhaka-Sylhet highway on Thursday, protesting a proposal to form a new upazila named Barishal by carving out four unions from Brahmanbaria Sadar and Bijoynagar upazilas.
The protest took place at Rammrail Bazar from 11am to noon, with residents from different villages gathering at the local bus stand carrying banners and festoons. They formed a human chain and staged a demonstration, disrupting traffic on the busy highway.
The protesters alleged that district BNP leader and Bhuiyan Foundation Chairman Kabir Ahmed Bhuiyan was behind the proposal to form the new upazila by separating Rammrail, Sultanpur and Basudeb unions from Brahmanbaria Sadar and Singarbil Union from Bijoynagar.
Addressing the gathering, Rammrail Union Jubo Dal General Secretary Shamsuzzaman Sohag said residents would resist any attempt to reorganise the area against their wishes.
“Rammrail is at the heart of Brahmanbaria. The people of Rammrail, Sultanpur and Basudeb have taken to the streets. We will not allow this plan to succeed,” he said.
Young lawyer Mukul Chowdhury said the demonstration was aimed at protesting the proposed formation of a new upazila by bringing together unions from different existing upazilas.
He vowed that the movement would continue until the proposal was withdrawn, adding that residents of the affected unions would resist the move.
In a written statement, local resident Iman Hazari said residents would not accept any proposal to place Rammrail and Sultanpur under an administrative jurisdiction other than Brahmanbaria Sadar.
“Brahmanbaria Sadar is our identity, pride and honour. We will protest any decision imposed on us by disregarding the opinions and interests of local people,” he said.
The protesters also called for an impartial investigation into allegations involving Kabir Ahmed Bhuiyan, including claims that he had used personal connections and influence to pursue various activities. They urged Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to intervene, saying no individual's influence should take precedence over the rights and interests of local residents.
The villagers warned that they would launch further road and railway blockades if the proposed upazila formation process was not abandoned.
They insisted that the four unions should remain under their existing administrative jurisdictions and vowed to resist any attempt to implement the proposal.
The blockade caused severe traffic congestion on both sides of the highway. A similar protest was also held in Sultanpur Union.
