Former U.S. President Barack Obama has sharply criticized the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids conducted in Minnesota, comparing them to behavior typical of authoritarian regimes. The raids, carried out over several weeks by thousands of federal agents, led to numerous arrests. The Trump administration claimed the operation targeted criminals, but it was halted earlier this week following widespread protests.

In an interview on Saturday, Obama described the conduct of federal officials as reckless, deeply concerning, and dangerous, citing two fatal shootings during the operation. He praised the organized resistance of ordinary citizens, saying their peaceful protests and use of truth and cameras represented hope for the nation. According to him, continued civic resistance, even in harsh winter conditions, signals the possibility of overcoming the current situation.

Trump administration immigration official Tom Homan announced the suspension of the Minnesota raids on Thursday after they sparked major demonstrations and national outrage. In the same interview, Obama also criticized the lack of civility in U.S. political discourse and responded to controversial social media posts by Trump about him and the former First Lady.

In the 13th National Parliamentary Election, five candidates in the Chattogram-1 (Mirsarai) constituency forfeited their security deposits after failing to secure the required share of votes. A total of seven candidates contested in this seat. BNP candidate Nurul Amin, running with the paddy sheaf symbol, won with 127,645 votes, while his closest rival, Jamaat-e-Islami’s Advocate Shaifur Rahman, received 81,227 votes.

According to election rules, any candidate receiving less than one-eighth of the total votes cast loses their deposit. In this constituency, 219,416 votes were cast, setting the threshold at 27,427 votes. The candidates who failed to meet this mark include Advocate Ferdous Ahmad Chowdhury of Islami Andolan Bangladesh (2,064 votes), Syed Shahadat Hossain of Jatiya Party (1,631 votes), Rezaul Karim of Insoniyat Biplob Bangladesh (758 votes), Advocate Zulfiqar Bulbul Chowdhury of Muslim League (266 votes), and Advocate A.K.M. Abu Yusuf of BSD (252 votes).

Mirsarai Upazila Executive Officer and Assistant Returning Officer Somaiya Akter confirmed that the deposits were forfeited due to the candidates receiving less than one-eighth of the total votes.

Nasiruddin Patwari, chief coordinator of the National Citizens Party (NCP) and candidate of the 11-party alliance, has submitted an application to the Chief Election Commissioner requesting suspension of the oath-taking of Mirza Abbas, the declared winner in Dhaka-8 constituency. The application, written on Saturday and submitted to the Election Commission on Sunday by NCP leader Kazi Fakhrul Islam, cites evidence of alleged vote rigging, irregularities, and unlawful influence during the election.

In his petition, Patwari detailed 11 points of alleged irregularities across 12 polling centers. He accused Mirza Abbas, the candidate of the BNP’s “sheaf of paddy” symbol, along with his associates, agents, and family members, of engaging in vote manipulation, exerting undue influence, withholding results, and counting invalid ballots. Patwari also claimed that presiding and returning officers were involved in these irregularities, which he said led to Abbas being declared the winner instead of himself.

Patwari urged the Election Commission to investigate the alleged misconduct and take action according to law and regulations.

Six candidates in the Nilphamari-4 constituency are set to lose their deposits following the results of the 13th National Parliamentary Election. According to the returning officer’s office, nine candidates, including both party-nominated and independent contenders, participated in the election. The results, declared on Thursday, confirmed that six of them failed to secure one-eighth of the total valid votes, as required by the Election Commission’s rules.

The official results show that a total of 297,254 votes were cast, of which 290,197 were valid and 7,057 were invalid. Abdul Muntakim of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami won the seat with 126,222 votes, defeating BNP’s Abdul Gafur Sarkar, who received 82,086 votes, and former MP Siddikul Alam of Jatiya Party, who got 67,557 votes. Each candidate had deposited Tk 50,000 with the Election Commission as a mandatory election deposit.

The six candidates losing their deposits include representatives from Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Bangladesh Socialist Party (Marxist), Bangladesh National Party, and three independents, all of whom failed to meet the required vote threshold.

Exiled Iranian crown prince Reza Pahlavi announced at the Munich Security Conference that he is ready to lead Iran toward a secular and democratic future. He called on the United States to take active steps to support political change in Iran. Addressing nearly two hundred thousand supporters, Pahlavi pledged to guide the country toward transparent and democratic elections.

During the rally, participants chanted slogans supporting the former monarchy and waved green, white, and red flags featuring the lion and sun emblem, symbolizing the deposed royal regime. A 62-year-old protester described Iran’s current government as a dead system. Pahlavi also urged Iranians at home and abroad to continue protests, instructing them to chant from their homes and rooftops at 8 p.m. local time on Saturday and Sunday.

Parallel demonstrations took place from Los Angeles to Washington’s National Park and in Toronto, where protesters demanded immediate action from the US president. Meanwhile, the United States has deployed a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East to increase military pressure on Tehran.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman stated that the Jamaat-led alliance has emerged as a strong national force after securing around 40 percent of the votes compared to the BNP alliance’s approximately 54 percent. He made the remarks on February 14 in a verified Facebook post, acknowledging the BNP alliance’s majority seat win and expressing respect for the constitutional process while noting the deeper realities reflected in the national vote.

Rahman said that under the current first-past-the-post system, many votes are structurally undervalued, noting that BNP won 53 constituencies by narrow margins of a few hundred to a few thousand votes. Some of these seats are under formal review by the Election Commission, and Jamaat will pursue all lawful means to ensure transparency. He emphasized that this is not a rejection of the national result but a responsible effort to uphold electoral integrity.

He urged the Election Commission to act impartially and called on law enforcement to address any reports of violence or intimidation. Rahman also appealed to BNP leadership to demonstrate constitutional governance and accountability before the nation and the international community.

In the recently held 13th National Parliamentary Election, four out of seven candidates in the Dinajpur-5 (Parbatipur-Phulbari) constituency lost their security deposits for failing to secure the required number of votes. According to the Election Commission’s circular, a candidate must obtain at least one-eighth of the total votes cast in the constituency to retain the deposit of 50,000 taka. Based on the total votes, a minimum of 42,329 votes was needed. The four candidates who failed to meet this threshold were Md. Kazi Abdul Gafur of the Jatiya Party, and independent candidates S.M. Zakaria Bacchu, Md. Hazrat Ali Belal, and Md. Rustam Ali.

A total of 338,634 out of 477,516 registered voters cast their ballots across 141 polling centers, marking a turnout rate of about 72 percent. Independent candidate A.Z.M. Rezwanul Haque won the seat unofficially with 113,650 votes, defeating his nearest rival, Jamaat-NCP alliance candidate Dr. Abdul Ahad, who received 108,948 votes. BNP candidate A.K.M. Kamruzzaman secured 97,727 votes.

Assistant Returning Officer and Upazila Nirbahi Officer Saddam Hossain confirmed that four candidates’ deposits were forfeited in this constituency.

AB Party General Secretary Barrister Asaduzzaman Fuad has warned that some BNP leaders and activists are turning into what he described as 'neo-Awami fascists'. He cautioned that if Tarique Rahman fails to control such elements within the party, a dire future awaits him. Fuad made these remarks on Sunday morning at a press conference held at the Barishal Press Club auditorium, addressing alleged irregularities, chaos, and harassment in the Barishal-3 constituency election.

Fuad criticized the administration for failing to ensure a fair election, saying it could not create a level playing field. He expressed disappointment that even after 55 years, candidates still cannot seek votes from people associated with violence, calling it a national shame. He emphasized that these issues will persist until the nation resolves its moral character.

Fuad further stated that the BNP’s 31-point agenda must be implemented in reality, not just on paper, as the public expects tangible action from the party.

The United Kingdom has alleged that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was killed by poisoning, based on findings presented at a security conference in Berlin on Saturday. British representatives said they and their allies verified samples from Navalny’s body, concluding that a toxic substance was used. UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper stated that only the Russian government had the means to carry out such poisoning.

Navalny died two years ago while imprisoned in a Siberian facility. According to Russia’s state news agency TASS, Moscow dismissed the British claim as propaganda. Cooper said tests revealed the presence of epibatidine, a poison naturally found in certain South American frogs, and argued that it could not occur naturally in Russia or be produced by prisoners or domestic animals.

Cooper added that Russia viewed Navalny as a threat and that the use of such a rare toxin demonstrated the government’s fear of political opposition.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has taken responsibility for the families of two party workers who recently died in Kishoreganj. On Sunday morning, he visited the families of Abdus Salam from Katiadi and Shah Alam from Itna to offer condolences and announced his decision to support them. Before meeting the families, he visited the graves of the two deceased workers.

During the visit, Dr. Rahman criticized certain individuals who, according to him, only show sympathy to poor people during elections but later distance themselves. Kishoreganj district Jamaat Ameer Professor Ramzan Ali and other local leaders were also present during the visit.

According to the report, Abdus Salam died in a road accident on February 3 while returning from a Jamaat election rally at Katiadi Government College field, and Shah Alam died of a stroke on February 8 on his way to another rally in Itna.

Six candidates contesting in the Pabna-3 constituency, covering Bhangura, Faridpur, and Chatmohar, lost their election deposits in the 13th National Parliamentary Election. According to the Upazila Election Office, the constituency had a total of 486,804 registered voters, with 341,811 votes cast, marking a turnout of 70.22 percent.

The candidates who forfeited their deposits are independent and BNP rebel candidate and former MP K.M. Anowarul Islam (Horse), Hasanul Islam Raja of Gano Odhikar Parishad (Truck), Md. Abdul Khalek of Islami Andolan Bangladesh (Hand Fan), Mir Nadim Mohammad Dablue of Jatiya Party (Plough), Mahbubur Rahman Joy Chowdhury of Bangladesh Supreme Party (Ektara), and Sardar Asha Parvez of Gano Forum (Rising Sun). Their vote counts ranged from 38,027 to 173.

Under Election Commission rules, candidates failing to secure one-eighth of the total votes cast lose their deposits, leading to the forfeiture of these six candidates’ deposits in Pabna-3.

An eleven-party alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami has announced a protest rally in Dhaka on Monday afternoon to demand an end to post-election violence. The announcement came on Sunday after a meeting with the Election Commission, where former MP Hamidur Rahman Azad told reporters that attacks were being carried out on the homes of alliance leaders and activists following the election. The protest march will begin from Baitul Mukarram in the capital.

According to the report, leaders of the eleven-party alliance also met the Chief Election Commissioner in Agargaon at 11:40 a.m. to demand a recount of votes in 30 constituencies. They alleged irregularities, including vote rigging, manipulation, and tampering with result sheets during the 13th National Parliamentary Election.

The alliance’s planned demonstration aims to draw attention to alleged election irregularities and violence targeting its supporters, as well as to press for a transparent review of disputed results.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman on Sunday, February 15, 2026, visited Shimulbakh Dakshinhati in Itna upazila of Kishoreganj to meet the family of Shah Alam, a party supporter who died earlier this month. At a memorial gathering, he said that respecting ordinary people is a matter of faith for him and described the sweat of farmers and laborers as fragrant, symbolizing their honest livelihood. He emphasized his rural roots, noting that dishonoring workers would be akin to disrespecting his own father.

During the event, Rahman announced that he would take responsibility for Shah Alam’s family as long as he remains in office and expressed hope that future leaders would continue this commitment. After the memorial, he planned to visit the family of Abdus Salam, another activist who died in a road accident on February 3 after a political rally in Katiadi. Senior Jamaat leaders, including Dr. Samiul Haque Faruqi and Professor Md. Ramzan Ali, were present at the memorial.

The visit followed two recent deaths of party supporters during election-related activities in Kishoreganj earlier in February.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman is scheduled to visit Noakhali on Sunday to meet a woman who was allegedly assaulted in Hatiya after voting for the Shapla symbol. His personal secretary Nazrul Islam confirmed that he will travel by helicopter. The woman, a mother of three, is currently receiving treatment at Noakhali General Hospital. On Saturday night, Dr. Rahman spoke with the victim and her family via video call, assuring them of his visit. National Citizen Party (NCP) convener Nahid Islam is also expected to accompany him.

District Jamaat Ameer Ishaq Khondakar said Dr. Rahman described the victim as his sister during the call, while Nahid Islam addressed her as a mother and expressed solidarity. NCP’s senior joint chief coordinator for Noakhali-6, Abdul Hannan Masud, alleged that supporters of a rival faction carried out violence in Hatiya under the direction of Mahbubur Rahman Shamim. He claimed the assault was part of a broader campaign of intimidation against NCP supporters.

According to reports, the attack occurred on Friday night, February 13, in the Dhanashiri Ashrayan Project area of Chanandi Union, where several men tied up the victim’s husband and assaulted her for voting for the NCP.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) candidate Syed M. Faisal has won the Habiganj-4 (Madhabpur-Chunarughat) constituency in the 13th National Parliamentary Election, marking the party’s return to the seat after nearly three decades. According to the official gazette, Faisal secured 188,072 votes under the paddy sheaf symbol, defeating Islami Front Bangladesh’s Gias Uddin At-Taheri, who received 84,323 votes. Faisal’s victory margin stood at 103,749 votes, sparking celebrations across the constituency as BNP supporters rejoiced at reclaiming the seat.

Faisal, who previously served as a Member of Parliament in 1996, has contested multiple elections since 1991. Despite facing political challenges and legal pressures, he maintained close ties with local residents. Analysts attribute his success to extensive grassroots campaigning, particularly outreach to tea garden workers led by his son Syed Shafkat Ahmed. Local observers described Faisal as an honest and dedicated politician with a clean image.

Following the result, residents expressed new hopes for development and suggested that Faisal’s inclusion in the cabinet would bring pride to Habiganj and strengthen administrative transparency.