As Bangladesh prepares for the February 12 national election, the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami alliances are competing intensely for power, with both parties offering varied promises to voters. The central question remains whether the incoming government will alter the 2025–26 fiscal budget announced by the interim administration led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus. So far, neither alliance has held formal discussions on revising the current budget structure.

A BNP policy adviser told Amader Desh that if the party forms the next government, it will prioritize market stability during Ramadan, possibly reducing import duties to keep prices within consumers’ reach. BNP also plans to adjust tariffs on education materials and introduce a “family card” to ensure household healthcare access. In contrast, Jamaat’s leadership said no internal review of the budget has yet taken place and that any decision will follow party-level discussions.

An NBR official noted that with less than five months left in the fiscal year, major structural changes would be difficult to implement. He added that the next government will likely focus on preparing the following year’s budget while managing inflation, revenue targets, and debt pressures.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh announced that postal ballot counting for the upcoming national election will begin across the country at 4:30 p.m. on February 12. Each constituency’s returning officer will designate the counting location, and 300 presiding officers have been appointed to oversee the process. Political parties may have one polling agent present during counting, which will be conducted under strict adherence to EC regulations to ensure transparency and credibility.

According to EC officials, the process is designed to fully protect voter confidentiality. Declaration forms and ballots will be separated before counting, and once verified, valid ballots will be counted without any possibility of linking them to individual voters. Security forces will be present, and all counting will occur in front of polling agents. Postal ballots for the parliamentary election and referendum will be counted separately, with results later combined with general votes.

The EC noted that postal ballot counting may take longer than regular ballots due to multiple verification steps. Ballot boxes were sealed earlier in the presence of polling agents, and lock details were publicly posted to maintain transparency.

Election campaigns in Sylhet have drawn attention for their peaceful atmosphere and candidate tolerance, despite the absence of traditional posters, rallies, and feasts. As of early February 2026, two-thirds of the official campaign period has passed without any reports of violence or conflict. Returning Officer and District Commissioner Sarwar Alam confirmed that all 33 candidates across six constituencies are campaigning freely, while law enforcement and border guards remain on high alert to ensure a fair election.

Police Commissioner Abdul Quddus described the overall law and order situation as stable, with only minor local incidents reported. Shahjalal University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Sarwar Uddin Chowdhury expressed optimism about high voter turnout, noting the positive environment. The district has 2.9 million registered voters, and many residents are preparing to return to their villages to cast ballots.

Although some citizens miss the festive atmosphere of past elections, the conflict-free campaigns and strong administrative oversight have led local observers to describe Sylhet’s polls as a potential model for fair and peaceful elections in Bangladesh.

Pakistan has protested the International Cricket Council’s decision to allow Scotland to play in the T20 World Cup instead of Bangladesh. Calling the move unfair, the Pakistan government decided to boycott its group-stage match against India as part of the protest. Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha expressed disappointment over Bangladesh’s exclusion, describing Bangladeshis as “brothers” and asking for their support during the tournament.

Speaking to media in Colombo, Salman said the decision to boycott India was made by the government, not the players. He added that if Pakistan faces India in the knockout stage, the team will consult the government again before deciding whether to play. Reflecting on the previous World Cup, Salman said Pakistan aims to correct past mistakes after losing to the United States.

By boycotting India, Pakistan will lose two points, which could hurt its net run rate. Salman acknowledged the challenge, noting that weather conditions are beyond their control and the team’s focus remains on playing good cricket.

At an election campaign rally held Wednesday night at the Bypass intersection in Rajapur upazila, Jhalakathi, Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) Vice President Sadiq Kayem expressed support for Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Dr. Fayzul Haque in the Jhalakathi-1 (Rajapur-Kathalia) constituency. Kayem stated that if Jamaat came to power, justice and fairness would be established in the country, emphasizing that the party practices politics based on ideals rather than power.

He urged followers to build a new Bangladesh inspired by the sacrifices of Shaheed Osman Hadi and Shaheed Abu Saeed. Kayem also warned that anti-national and hegemonic forces were conspiring again and called for vigilance. He described Dr. Fayzul Haque as a successor to Osman Hadi’s ideals and said his victory could help establish a justice-based society.

Local leaders and supporters of Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra Shibir attended the event, which was part of the ongoing campaign for the Jhalakathi-1 constituency.

At least ten people were injured in a clash between activists of the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami in Monpura upazila of Bhola on Friday morning. The incident occurred in Ward 3 of Uttar Sakuchia Union during election campaigning. Police and naval personnel arrived at the scene and brought the situation under control after about one and a half hours. Several of the injured were admitted to Monpura Upazila Health Complex.

Witnesses said the clash began when Jamaat supporters went for campaign activities near the house of a local BNP leader, prompting objections from BNP activists. The altercation escalated into violence, injuring a local journalist and members of both groups. Jamaat’s union secretary Abdur Rahim claimed six of their workers were hurt, three seriously, while BNP’s joint general secretary Abdur Rahim Farazi said both sides engaged in scuffles during campaigning.

Monpura police officer-in-charge Sheikh Farid Uddin stated that no written complaint had been filed yet, but legal action would follow if one is received.

Former International Cricket Council (ICC) president Ehsan Mani has called on current ICC chairman Jay Shah to take an active role in reducing tensions between Pakistan and India. Speaking to Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper from London, Mani said Shah should personally visit Pakistan to persuade its government to withdraw its boycott and to listen carefully to its concerns. He warned that the ICC must also protect global cricket from potential financial losses if the standoff continues.

Mani criticized the ICC’s reported decision to assign deputy chairman Imran Khwaja to handle talks with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), arguing that as a representative of associate member Singapore, Khwaja was not the right person for the task. He said the ICC chairman himself should engage directly with the Pakistani government. Mani added that Pakistan’s decision likely rests on a strong foundation, especially if the matter reaches the ICC arbitration committee.

He expressed concern that India’s influence within the ICC could affect any arbitration outcome, as seen in 2018, and suggested Pakistan could appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland if justice is denied.

Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir celebrated its 49th founding anniversary in Shahjahanpur upazila of Bogura with a bicycle rally and a brief assembly on Friday morning. The rally began at 10:30 a.m. from Majhira Bazar and moved through various roads along the Dhaka–Bogura highway before concluding with a gathering. The event was chaired by Abu Sayem, president of the Shahjahanpur town branch, and attended by a large number of members and students.

Bogura district east branch office secretary Tawfiqul Islam Taki attended as chief guest, while Baytul secretary Talibul Habib and publication secretary Rakibul Islam Robin were special guests. In his address, Taki emphasized the importance of student organizations in fostering morally and ideologically sound generations. Jamaat-e-Islami’s nominated candidate for Bogura-7, Golam Rabbani, also spoke, urging unity to build a generation inspired by ethics, education, and patriotism.

Speakers highlighted Shibir’s ongoing efforts to promote ideal education, social responsibility, and positive leadership among youth, calling on students to contribute to national welfare through discipline and human values.

At least nine people, including women and children, were injured after being bitten by a fox in Nikli upazila of Kishoreganj on Friday. The incidents occurred between 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. in separate locations at Badarpur and Jalalpur villages under Karapasha Union. The injured were taken to the upazila health complex, where they received primary treatment before returning home.

According to local accounts, a fox behaving abnormally attacked several residents in Badarpur village, biting them on their legs and lower bodies before fleeing. In a separate incident in Jalalpur village, a man named Jahangir Mia and his wife were attacked when the fox pounced on them. Jahangir later struck the animal with a stick, killing it on the spot.

Following the attacks, panic spread across the area, and residents urged the local administration to take immediate action to prevent further incidents.

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to reconsider its decision to boycott the World Cup match against India, citing potential financial losses. The match, one of the tournament’s most commercially valuable fixtures, could cost the International Cricket Council (ICC) around 500 million US dollars if it does not take place. Each cricket board of the two rival nations could lose approximately 2 billion Indian rupees directly and indirectly.

SLC stated that the boycott would also harm Sri Lanka’s economy, particularly its tourism sector, which is still recovering from the 2022 financial crisis. The board emphasized that as a co-host of the World Cup, it stands to face significant economic setbacks if the high-profile match is canceled.

However, the PCB has declined to act on Sri Lanka’s request, explaining that the decision to boycott India was made by the Pakistani government and is beyond the board’s authority. The ICC and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had previously failed to persuade Pakistan to reverse its stance.

Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh’s Amir Allama Shah Muhibullah Babunagari has declared that voting for Jamaat-e-Islami is religiously forbidden, calling it 'haram' and 'not permissible in any way.' He made the statement on Thursday night at a religious event marking the completion of Bukhari Sharif at Kazi’s Hat Boro Madrasa in Fatikchhari, Chattogram. During the same event, Babunagari announced a 'jihad' against Jamaat-e-Islami and publicly endorsed BNP’s paddy-sheaf symbol candidate, Md. Sarwar Alamgir, for the Chattogram-2 (Fatikchhari) constituency.

His remarks quickly stirred widespread discussion in local political circles and on social media. While some users supported his statement, most online comments criticized the language and the mixing of religious messages with politics. Several observers described the remarks as potentially provocative for the election environment, and local political actors speculated that the statement could alter the electoral dynamics in the constituency.

As of publication, Jamaat-e-Islami and other concerned parties had not issued any immediate response to Babunagari’s comments.

French forward Karim Benzema made a spectacular debut for Al Hilal, scoring a hat-trick and providing an assist in a 6-0 victory over Al Akhdoud in the Saudi Pro League on Thursday night. The 38-year-old striker, who recently transferred from Al Ittihad to Al Hilal on the final day of the winter transfer window, opened the scoring in the 31st minute with a backheel finish. He added two more goals in the second half before assisting Brazilian forward Malcom.

Benzema was substituted in the 71st minute by Italian coach Simone Inzaghi, but Al Hilal continued their dominance as Salem Al-Dawsari scored twice to complete the rout. The match marked a strong start for Benzema at his new club, which is also the former team of Neymar Jr. The Frenchman expressed his delight after the match, saying the team played well, scored many goals, and conceded none.

The emphatic win highlighted Benzema’s seamless adaptation to Al Hilal and raised expectations for his performance in the remainder of the season.

The T20 World Cup begins today, but Bangladesh will not participate in the tournament due to security concerns. Despite the team’s absence, Bangladesh will still have representation at the global event through former national cricketer Athar Ali Khan, who has been named among the 40 commentators announced by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on its website.

Earlier, the ICC also released the list of match officials for the tournament, which includes Bangladeshi umpires Sharafuddoula Ibne Shahid from the ICC Elite Panel and Gazi Sohel from the ICC International Panel. The commentary team features several renowned names such as Ravi Shastri, Nasser Hussain, Ian Smith, Ian Bishop, Sunil Gavaskar, Michael Atherton, Harsha Bhogle, Ramiz Raja, and Alan Wilkins.

Additionally, former T20 World Cup winners Aaron Finch, Dinesh Karthik, Kumar Sangakkara, Samuel Badree, Robin Uthappa, and Carlos Brathwaite will also join the commentary panel, adding further star power to the broadcast lineup.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has unveiled its election manifesto ahead of the upcoming national polls, emphasizing the theme 'Bangladesh First' as its guiding philosophy. Party Chairperson Tarique Rahman announced the plan at a ceremony in Dhaka’s Hotel Sonargaon on February 6, 2026, pledging to create one million new jobs in artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, and freelancing sectors to address youth unemployment and revive the fragile economy.

The manifesto outlines several ICT-focused initiatives, including transforming Bangladesh into an international hub for AI, software, and hardware production. It promises free high-speed internet in key areas, a national cybersecurity center, and a 'Made in Bangladesh' program to promote local tech products globally. The BNP also plans to introduce digital payment systems such as PayPal, establish AI-driven data centers, and support startups with tax exemptions, subsidized loans, and a national crowdfunding platform.

According to Tarique Rahman, these initiatives aim to build a technology-driven, employment-oriented, and innovative economy if the BNP forms the next government.

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.