M. M. Siddique Miah, a senior Awami League leader and chairman of Algi Union Parishad in Bhanga Upazila, Faridpur, has been released on bail after spending 175 days in prison. Upon his release on Sunday, 8 March, he was greeted at the Faridpur District Jail gate with flowers by Shahidul Islam Babul, the Member of Parliament for Faridpur-4 from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
Siddique Miah, 57, had been detained in connection with protests over a constituency boundary dispute between Faridpur-4 and Faridpur-2, which sparked several demonstrations and road blockades last year. He was a key coordinator of the movement opposing the Election Commission’s decision to reassign Algi and Hamirdi unions from Faridpur-4 to Faridpur-2, an action that led to widespread unrest along the Dhaka-Khulna and Dhaka-Barishal highways.
Timeline of Key Events
| Date | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 September 2025 | Election Commission merges Algi & Hamirdi with Faridpur-2 | Triggered protests and road blockades |
| 13 September 2025 | Arrest of M. M. Siddique Miah | Detained by Faridpur District Detective Police |
| 14 September 2025 – 8 March 2026 | Period of imprisonment | 175 days in Faridpur District Jail |
| 8 March 2026 | Release on bail | Welcomed by BNP MP Shahidul Islam Babul |
Siddique Miah also serves as the Awami League’s Upazila secretary for science and technology. Upon his release, he expressed gratitude to MP Babul for facilitating his return to freedom.
Babul explained that prior to the 13th national parliamentary elections, he had pledged legal assistance to individuals detained during the boundary protests. “Siddique Miah’s release is part of fulfilling that promise. Legal procedures are ongoing to secure the release of other detainees as well,” he stated.
The dispute originated when the Election Commission decided to move Algi and Hamirdi unions from Faridpur-4 to Faridpur-2 in September 2025. Residents staged multiple demonstrations and blocked key highways in protest. Eventually, the High Court ruled that the unions should remain within Faridpur-4, allowing voters from the area to participate in the parliamentary elections under their original constituency.
Siddique Miah’s release represents a notable moment in Faridpur’s local politics, signalling a rare instance of cross-party cooperation on matters of legal redress for protest-related arrests. The public reception, including the warm welcome from a BNP MP, underscores the complex interplay of civic activism and political allegiance in the region.
This episode highlights the ongoing sensitivity of constituency boundary issues in Bangladesh and demonstrates the pivotal role political leaders play in resolving conflicts while safeguarding the legal rights of civic movement participants.