The Election Commission (EC) is set to revise parliamentary constituency boundaries ahead of the next general election, adding one seat to Gazipur and removing one from Bagerhat due to major differences in voter distribution.

The announcement was made by Election Commissioner Md. Anwarul Islam Sarkar at a press briefing held at the Election Commission headquarters in Agargaon, Dhaka on Wednesday.

“Gazipur currently has the highest number of voters in the country, while Bagerhat has one of the lowest. Based on these disparities, the technical committee has recommended one additional seat for Gazipur and the removal of one from Bagerhat,” said Commissioner Anwarul.

According to the commissioner, the decision is based on recommendations from the Delimitation Technical Committee and expert groups, who used the 2022 Population and Housing Census data. The EC has set a standard of 420,500 voters per constituency to ensure balanced representation.

In total, 42 parliamentary constituencies were reviewed, and boundary changes have been proposed in 39 of them, including key areas in: Dhaka (2, 3, 7, 10, 14, 19), Gazipur (1, 2, 3, 5, 6), Narayanganj (3, 4, 5), Sylhet (1, 3), Comilla (1, 2, 10, 11), Noakhali (1, 2, 4, 5), Chattogram (7, 8), and Bagerhat (2, 3).

No changes were proposed for Khulna, and adjustments for Panchagarh, Rangpur, Sirajganj, Satkhira, and Shariatpur are also on the table.

Citizens or parties wishing to challenge the proposed changes must submit objections within the specified period. The EC will review and resolve all objections before announcing the final delimitation order on August 10.

“The responsibility to redraw constituency boundaries falls under the EC’s constitutional mandate (Articles 119–124). The aim is to ensure fair and proportional representation for all voters,” the commissioner added.

Gazipur, a rapidly urbanizing district near the capital, has seen a population surge in recent years due to industrialization and internal migration. In contrast, Bagerhat’s stagnant or declining voter base has led to over-representation relative to its population.

Analysts viewed this move as a long-overdue step toward equitable electoral representation, though some parties may raise concerns regarding political motivations behind the changes.