Police dispersed a demonstration by Inkilab Moncho activists on Friday during their campaign demanding justice for the killing of Shahid Sharif Osman Hadi. Several members of the group were injured in the incident. Later that night, the organization released a video on its Facebook page where member secretary Abdullah Al Jaber described the events and accused police of using excessive force against peaceful protesters near Dr. Yunus’s residence.

In the video, Jaber alleged that police assaulted female activists and ignored orders from senior officers to avoid violence. He claimed that the attack was intended to disrupt the upcoming national election scheduled for the 12th. The group demanded that the interim government send a letter to the United Nations by February 8 requesting an independent investigation into Hadi’s killing under UN supervision. Jaber also alleged that some police officers removed nameplates and wore masks during the assault.

Inkilab Moncho called for identifying and prosecuting those responsible for the attack and warned that failure to act could further destabilize the country’s law and order situation.

According to the Department of Prisons, only about seven percent of inmates across Bangladesh are participating in the national election and referendum through postal ballots. Out of approximately 85,000 prisoners nationwide, 5,960 have been approved to vote by post. Assistant Inspector General of Prisons Jannatul Farhad confirmed the information on Friday, noting that inmates from 71 of the country’s 75 prisons registered for postal voting, while four newly established prisons currently have no inmates.

Prison authorities reported that 6,313 prisoners initially registered for postal voting, but after verification and procedural complexities, 5,960 registrations were approved. By Thursday, 3,647 votes had been collected and sent to the respective centers, with the remaining ballots still being processed. The registration process is conducted online, requiring inmates to access candidate lists from their home constituencies, which takes additional time.

Officials added that many prisoners lack national identity cards or show little interest in voting, contributing to the low participation rate. The prison population has risen sharply since the July uprising, with about 85,000 inmates now held in facilities designed for 43,000.

Election Commissioner Md. Anwarul Islam Sarkar announced that all preparations for Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliamentary Election and referendum, scheduled for February 12, have been completed. He stated that only voter participation remains, as ballot distribution to remaining constituencies will be finalized within the next few days. The commission reported that ballots have already reached 116 constituencies and will reach all others by February 7.

Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed of the Election Commission Secretariat explained that some ballots had to be reprinted after court rulings reinstated several candidates, causing minor delays. He expressed confidence that all ballots would arrive on time. To ensure security, the highest-ever number of law enforcement personnel in Bangladesh’s electoral history has been deployed, with the army active for seven days, Ansar for eight days, and police already on duty.

Additionally, 1,050 executive magistrates and judicial magistrates will be stationed from February 8 to 14 to oversee mobile courts and election-related duties.

Inqilab Mancha has alleged that members of the Awami League infiltrated their protest demanding justice for the killing of Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi. The group claimed that during their gathering at Shahbagh on Friday night, individuals linked to the Awami League mixed with the general public and attempted to divert the situation. The allegations were made through two separate Facebook posts at 8:09 p.m. and 9:13 p.m.

In the later post, Inqilab Mancha stated that the 'League has become active' and accused them of trying to derail both the demand for justice and the upcoming election. The group urged supporters to move to safe locations. Earlier, in the first post, it reaffirmed that the election would be held on the 12th as planned and would not be allowed to be disrupted.

The report indicates that Inqilab Mancha remains firm on holding the election as scheduled while warning of attempts to destabilize the movement and the electoral process.

The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) Chief Observer Ivars Ijabs said the upcoming February 12 national election in Bangladesh is expected to be free, fair, peaceful, and transparent, leading to the formation of a new parliament. Speaking at a press briefing at the Sylhet Press Club on Friday evening, he expressed optimism that the historic election would strengthen democracy and help Bangladesh emerge as a dynamic state.

Ijabs emphasized that the EU EOM operates under three technical principles—independence, impartiality, and non-interference—and will observe the electoral process but not certify the results. He noted that the election belongs solely to the people of Bangladesh. The mission will assess the overall environment for political and civic participation, including that of women, youth, and vulnerable groups, as well as monitor media and social media to evaluate voter access to information.

According to Ijabs, the EU EOM will issue a preliminary statement and hold a press conference in Dhaka on February 14, followed by a final report with recommendations about two months later.

Leaders and activists of Inqilab Manch reoccupied Dhaka’s Shahbagh intersection late Friday night after enduring police sound grenades and tear gas for two hours. Earlier in the evening, police had dispersed the group and taken control of the area around 7 p.m., but by 8:45 p.m. the protesters regained their position. The group has been demonstrating since Thursday near the Intercontinental Hotel, demanding a United Nations-led investigation into the killing of Hadi.

Police had earlier used sound grenades and tear gas to remove the protesters from the hotel area, prompting Inqilab Manch to block Shahbagh in protest. Independent MP candidate for Dhaka-18, Mohiuddin Roni, was injured during the confrontation and is receiving hospital treatment, according to his associate Obaidur Rahman Sohan. In a Facebook post Friday night, Inqilab Manch reaffirmed that the election scheduled for the 12th would proceed and warned against attempts to derail it.

Another post from the group alleged that ruling party activists were blending with the public to divert the situation and urged supporters to move to safe locations.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has invited BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman to join a direct public discussion on the upcoming national election. The invitation was made on Friday evening through a post on Dr. Rahman’s verified Facebook page, where he emphasized the importance of free and fair elections as the foundation of legitimacy and public trust.

In his post, Dr. Rahman stated that political engagement should be civil and non-confrontational, particularly after the July revolution, and called for both leaders to appear before the media and the public to present their respective manifestos. He proposed that such a discussion would allow citizens to evaluate their visions and make informed decisions about the country’s future governance.

Dr. Rahman concluded by urging for a new chapter in Bangladesh’s politics, one that honors the will of the people and upholds transparency and accountability in leadership.

Nahid Islam has declared that there will be no compromise in seeking justice for the murder of Sharif Osman Hadi, the convener of Inqilab Moncho. In a Facebook post on Friday evening, he condemned a police attack on the group’s peaceful program demanding a UN-led investigation into Hadi’s killing. Several activists were reportedly injured in the incident, which Nahid described as an act of unprofessional conduct by law enforcement. He urged the government to accept the legitimate demands of Inqilab Moncho and take action against those responsible for the attack.

Nahid also shared a video of his speech from an election rally held earlier in the day in Savar’s Dhaka-19 constituency. In his remarks, he reiterated that failure to ensure justice for Hadi and to arrest the killers would be recorded as a major failure of the interim government. He called on the authorities to respect Hadi’s family and take effective steps to deliver justice without delay.

The interim government of Bangladesh announced that it will send a formal letter to the United Nations on Sunday regarding a possible UN-led investigation into the killing of Shahid Sharif Osman Hadi. In a statement issued Friday evening, the government said law enforcement did not use firearms while dispersing protests demanding justice for Hadi’s murder near the state guesthouse Jamuna. Twenty-three people were injured, but none suffered gunshot wounds, according to medical officials.

Authorities stated that gatherings around the Jamuna area remain prohibited to ensure public order and the safety of the Chief Adviser. Police reportedly used sound grenades and water cannons to control the situation after protesters attempted to breach barricades. The government rejected allegations of excessive force and reaffirmed its commitment to a lawful and transparent investigation process.

The statement also urged citizens to remain calm and responsible ahead of the upcoming national election, which the government described as a historic milestone for Bangladesh’s democratic progress. It emphasized the importance of a peaceful, participatory, and credible electoral process.

National Citizen Party (NCP) spokesperson and election committee chairman Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan has strongly condemned a police attack on members of Inquilab Moncho. In a verified Facebook post on Friday, February 6, 2026, he described the incident as 'disgraceful' and questioned whether demanding justice for Shaheed Hadi’s killing was a crime.

According to a Facebook post by Inquilab Moncho, its member secretary Abdullah Al Jaber was shot during the police action at a program organized to demand justice for the killing of spokesperson Shaheed Sharif Osman Bin Hadi. The group also claimed that its leaders Juma and Shanta were injured. Inquilab Moncho leaders have been staging a sit-in in front of Jamuna since Thursday to press their demand for justice. The incident has drawn condemnation from Jamaat, NCP, and several others.

The repeated condemnations highlight growing political tension surrounding the demand for accountability in Hadi’s killing, with multiple parties publicly denouncing the police response.

The United States has reaffirmed its support for Pakistan following coordinated attacks in the southwestern province of Balochistan that left more than 50 people dead. The US State Department issued a statement on Friday, condemning the violence and expressing solidarity with Pakistan. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attacks, which targeted multiple districts last Saturday. The US has previously designated the BLA as a terrorist organization.

According to reports, Balochistan, rich in mineral resources and bordering Iran and Afghanistan, has long been the site of an armed separatist insurgency. Baloch militant groups frequently target security forces, foreign nationals, and non-local Pakistanis. Pakistan’s military said intelligence-based operations killed 216 militants, while 36 civilians, including women and children, and 22 security personnel were also killed in the violence. Islamabad blamed India for the attacks, but New Delhi denied the accusation.

Security analysts warned that the insurgency remains in a stalemate and could intensify without political solutions. Former military officials noted that weapons left after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan have strengthened militant groups like the BLA.

The Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) announced a 10-point election manifesto ahead of Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament Election 2026. The declaration was made by JSD General Secretary Shahid Uddin Mahmud Swapan on Friday evening at the National Press Club in Dhaka. He stated that Bangladesh’s independence was rooted in the struggle against exploitation and inequality, and that the current state structure still bears colonial and discriminatory traits. The manifesto, he said, aims not only at changing the government but also at reforming the state.

The manifesto’s key proposals include a bicameral parliament, a federal government with nine provinces, a national consensus government, and provisions for recall and citizen-initiated legislation. It also calls for an independent Election Commission, constitutional and judicial reforms, universal healthcare, technology-based education, and women’s empowerment. Other priorities include anti-corruption measures, renewable energy, and employment creation for 50 million people.

JSD leaders urged citizens to support the manifesto through a referendum and to vote for the party’s “Tara” symbol in the upcoming election.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has expressed concern and condemnation over the police action during a peaceful program of Inqilab Mancha, where the group’s member secretary Abdullah Al Jaber was shot and more than a hundred activists were injured. The party’s Assistant Secretary General and head of the central publicity and media department, Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, issued a statement on Friday addressing the incident.

In the statement, Zubair said that the police crackdown on activists marching toward the Chief Adviser’s residence in Jamuna to demand a UN-supervised investigation into the killing of Sharif Osman Hadi was unacceptable. He described the use of sound grenades, tear gas, batons, and bullets against peaceful protesters as condemnable and a violation of citizens’ constitutional rights in a democratic state.

He called for an impartial investigation into the incident, identification and exemplary punishment of responsible police officers, and proper medical treatment for the injured. Zubair reaffirmed Jamaat-e-Islami’s stance against injustice and repression and urged the state to abandon repressive measures and listen to the people’s legitimate demands.

Nahid Islam, the Dhaka-11 candidate representing the 11-party alliance and convener of the NCP, expressed concern about the fairness of the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election. He made the remarks on Friday, February 6, during an election campaign and public outreach event in Satar Kul, Badda, Dhaka. Speaking to journalists, he said there were doubts about whether the election would be fair and claimed that a level playing field was absent.

According to Nahid Islam, a candidate from a particular party was distributing money and goods to voters under the guise of a family card program, violating the electoral code of conduct. He stated that the matter had been reported to the Election Commission. The NCP convener also condemned an attack on members of the Inquilab Mancha who had been protesting to demand justice for Osman Hadi, calling the incident shameful and urging an investigation into who was responsible and who incited the police.

The comments highlight ongoing concerns among opposition candidates about election integrity and enforcement of campaign regulations ahead of the national polls.

The interim government of Bangladesh stated on Friday evening that law enforcement did not use any firearms while dispersing a protest demanding justice for the killing of Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi. The demonstration, organized under the banner of Inquilab Moncho, began Thursday afternoon in front of the state guesthouse Jamuna, where gatherings are prohibited. Authorities said 23 people, including the group’s member secretary Abdullah Al Jaber, were injured but none sustained gunshot wounds, according to doctors at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

The government explained that police initially refrained from using force but later deployed sound grenades and water cannons after protesters broke barricades and attempted to move toward the guesthouse. Dhaka Metropolitan Police confirmed that no firearms were used. The statement also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring justice for Hadi’s killing and said it is reviewing legal aspects of a possible UN-led investigation, with a formal letter to be sent to the relevant UN body on Sunday.

The government urged all citizens to remain calm and responsible ahead of the upcoming national election, emphasizing its goal of a peaceful, participatory, and democratic process.