On the eve of Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliamentary Election, the administration in Chattogram-4 (Sitakunda) constituency has completed all preparations for voting. Ballot boxes and papers have been delivered to 124 polling centers under the security of joint forces comprising the army, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and police. Patrols have been intensified to ensure a free, fair, and peaceful election, supported by multi-layered security and technology-based monitoring.

Each polling center has been equipped with CCTV cameras connected to a live monitoring system at the Sitakunda Upazila Parishad building, where a 100-inch screen displays real-time footage from 64 cameras. The Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Assistant Returning Officer Fakhrul Islam will oversee the monitoring, supported by two judicial magistrates and five executive magistrates to maintain law and order. A special stage has been set up at the Upazila auditorium for rapid result collection and announcement.

Joint forces remain on high alert around polling centers to ensure voters can cast their ballots safely. The administration reports that all logistical, technical, and security arrangements are finalized, awaiting voter participation to determine the constituency’s next representative.

In Chatmohar upazila of Pabna, the presiding officer of Ashraf Jindami High School polling center was withdrawn after several Jamaat-e-Islami leaders entered the center late at night. The withdrawn officer, Md Ruhul Amin, who also serves as the Chatmohar upazila food inspector, was replaced by the assistant presiding officer following the incident. The visit reportedly took place around 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 11, when the Jamaat leaders met Ruhul Amin and handed over necessary agent documents.

The matter became widely known among supporters of other candidates, prompting local concern. Upon being informed, Assistant Returning Officer and Chatmohar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Musa Naser Chowdhury acted on the directive of Pabna Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer Shahed Mostafa to remove Ruhul Amin from duty. The replacement was made immediately to maintain election management integrity.

The late-night entry of Jamaat leaders into the polling center has sparked public questions and speculation across the upazila, according to local reports.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has filed 127 complaints against leaders and activists of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, accusing them of buying votes with money, attempting to seize polling centers, casting fake votes, and threatening Hindu voters on the night before the election. The allegations were presented at a press conference held Wednesday night at the BNP’s central election operations office by Nazrul Islam Khan, a member of the party’s standing committee and chairman of its election management committee.

Nazrul Islam Khan said he had expected all participants of the mass movement to remain peaceful and within democratic norms, but described the current situation as regrettable. He also alleged that a particular group was spreading false information to mislead the public. Khan added that all candidates send funds to their polling centers before election day and mentioned that confusion was being spread regarding Tk 1.5 million in center expenses sent by BNP leader Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie in Lakshmipur.

The BNP’s allegations come amid heightened political tension and competing narratives between major parties ahead of the national polls.

Two assistant presiding officers were dismissed in Uzirpur, Barishal, after allegedly leaving a polling center without authorization. The incident occurred around 11 p.m. on Wednesday at Habibpur Secondary School (Center No. 63). According to local sources, the officers, identified as teachers Md. Obaidul and Ayesha, left the center around 10:30 p.m. without informing the presiding officer. Locals alleged they visited the residence of the upazila Jamaat leader for a secret meeting. They were later detained, and the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md. Ali Suza was informed.

Following the complaint, the administration immediately dismissed both from their posts and appointed two replacements. The accused officers denied the allegation of attending a secret meeting, claiming they had only gone out to eat and that the accusations were false.

UNO Md. Ali Suza stated that leaving the center without the presiding officer’s permission violates election rules. He confirmed that the two were removed for breaching regulations and replaced with new assistant presiding officers.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman has called on citizens not to believe or spread rumors, asserting that the triumph of truth is inevitable. He made the statement on Tuesday night through a post on his verified Facebook page, addressing the public directly.

In his message, Shafiqur Rahman warned that a wave of misinformation was circulating and urged everyone to remain cautious. He described the current situation as a period of widespread rumors and advised people to disregard them completely. His post emphasized faith in the eventual victory of truth.

The statement reflects Jamaat-e-Islami’s effort to counter misinformation and maintain public composure amid circulating rumors, though no further details or context were provided in the source.

The presiding officer of the Salimunnesa Girls’ School polling center in Kaliganj, Jhenaidah-4 constituency, was removed after 23 signed result sheets were seized on Wednesday night, February 11. The returning officer and Jhenaidah Deputy Commissioner Abdullah Al Masud confirmed the action, stating that such irresponsible conduct would not be tolerated to ensure a free and fair election. Shamsuzzaman Khan, a lecturer at Kaliganj Shaheed Nur Ali College, was appointed as the new presiding officer.

The incident occurred around 8 p.m. at the Salimunnesa Secondary Girls’ School center, where the removed officer, Jasmin Ara, served as an assistant engineer at the Department of Public Health Engineering. Executive Magistrate Selim Reza and Assistant Returning Officer and Kaliganj UNO Rizwana Nahid visited the center following the discovery. Selim Reza said the seized sheets were torn up and would not affect the election results.

Officials emphasized that the removal was necessary to maintain transparency and public confidence in the electoral process.

Dr. Atiq Mujahid, the central joint convener of the National Citizens Party (NCP) and the 11-party alliance candidate for Kurigram-2 constituency, announced an iPhone prize for voters who capture and share 'special moments' from polling centers. In a video message released on Tuesday, he urged voters in Rajarhat, Phulbari, and Kurigram Sadar upazilas to record photos or videos of polling activities and upload them to Facebook or send them directly to his team. The most informative submission will receive an iPhone.

Mujahid hinted that participants should focus on specific types of videos, which observers interpreted as a call to document irregularities, ballot stuffing, or violence if such incidents occur. He described the initiative as a form of social resistance, aiming to empower citizens with mobile phones to act as individual media observers. Mujahid said the plan arose from concerns that opponents might attempt to capture polling centers due to the popularity of his alliance’s symbol.

The announcement has sparked discussion in the constituency. Political analysts noted that using social media for polling center monitoring could introduce a new dimension to the electoral environment.

In Bagerhat-2 constituency, Jamaat and independent candidates held separate late-night press conferences at the Bagerhat Press Club on Wednesday. Independent candidate M A H Selim alleged that propaganda was being spread against him, his posters were torn down across towns and villages, and his polling agents were being threatened. He urged the Election Commission and law enforcement agencies to take immediate action to ensure a festive and fair election atmosphere.

Jamaat candidate Manjurul Haque Rahat stated that his party did not believe in retaliation and wanted a peaceful election. He claimed that a coordinated group was spreading misinformation against Jamaat, while rival candidates were allegedly buying votes and setting up unauthorized campaign camps within 400 yards of polling areas. Rahat called on the administration and the Election Commission to maintain a level playing field and warned that they would be responsible for any untoward incidents if fairness was not ensured.

Separately, BNP candidate Barrister Sheikh Md Zakir Hossain met journalists at his residence and presented his election manifesto.

Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, spokesperson and head of the election management committee of the National Citizens Party (NCP), alleged that the media in Bangladesh has been taken over by the BNP and is acting in a one-sided and irresponsible manner. Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday night at the party’s temporary central office in Rupayan Trade Center, Banglamotor, Dhaka, he warned that such 'information terrorism' would not be tolerated on election day.

Bhuiyan also claimed that weapons were being stockpiled in various locations ahead of the election and called on joint forces to conduct operations by Wednesday night. He criticized what he described as interference with personal freedoms during money recovery drives and questioned whether keeping a laptop at home could be considered a crime. He further alleged that the Election Commission, returning officers, and law enforcement agencies had failed to maintain neutrality.

The NCP spokesperson reported attacks on candidates and workers of the NCP and its 11-party alliance, along with intimidation of polling agents, urging local election officials to ensure a level playing field.

Salman Al-Azmi, son of former Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh Ameer Ghulam Azam, published an open letter on Facebook addressed to the party’s workers, supporters, and well-wishers. In the post, released on February 12, 2026, he congratulated them for conducting what he described as a positive and united election campaign. He stated that regardless of the result expected the next day, Jamaat had already achieved victory by entering Bangladesh’s political mainstream and gaining broad public support.

Al-Azmi highlighted several points to justify his claim of moral victory, including the growing popularity of Jamaat’s leadership, particularly Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, and the party’s competitive position against the BNP in recent polls. He also noted that online activists and public figures had shown support for the party’s alliance. He urged followers to remain steadfast whether the election result brought victory or defeat.

He concluded by praying for a fair and peaceful election and reminded supporters that true success lies in sincere effort and service to the nation, regardless of electoral outcomes.

Authorities across Bangladesh have strengthened security measures at hundreds of polling centers identified as vulnerable ahead of the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election and referendum. Reports from multiple districts including Chattogram, Nilphamari, Chandpur, Barguna, Bhola, Mymensingh, Jamalpur, Netrokona, and others confirm that local administrations and law enforcement agencies have classified numerous centers as risky or highly risky. In Sitakunda, 48 of 124 centers were marked vulnerable, while in Nilphamari 264 of 562 centers were listed as risky. Similar classifications were made in Faridganj, Betagi, Tajumuddin, Gouripur, Madarganj, Kishoreganj, and Purbadhala.

District administrations have deployed additional police, army, BGB, RAB, and Ansar personnel to ensure peaceful voting. Many centers are now under CCTV surveillance, and officers equipped with body-worn cameras will monitor activities. Executive and judicial magistrates have also been assigned to oversee law and order during the election period.

The Election Commission and local authorities stated that these measures aim to prevent violence and ensure smooth, fair, and secure voting across all constituencies.

BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami activists took positions around several polling centers in Chattogram city on Wednesday night, beginning around 9 p.m. They set up party booths within 100 to 150 yards of the centers, distributing voter slips and maintaining a visible presence in nearby streets and alleys. Law enforcement agencies, including the army, police, BGB, RAB, and Ansar, were also on high alert, conducting patrols, checkpoints, and vehicle inspections, detaining unauthorized cars.

At some centers, such as Abdul Jalil High School in Chattogram-10 and a polling site in Chandgaon Residential Area under Chattogram-8, BNP and Jamaat supporters exchanged slogans accusing each other of vote rigging. Election officials, however, stated that no such incidents occurred and that the slogans were limited to rival groups outside the centers.

BNP representative Abdul Alim said their vigilance stemmed from past experiences of alleged ballot tampering, while Jamaat’s Ismail Hossain claimed the administration’s behavior was becoming increasingly one-sided. Both groups vowed to prevent any attempt to steal votes.

Bangladesh is holding its long-awaited parliamentary election and referendum on Thursday, marking the first such vote since the July Revolution a year and a half ago. The event has drawn intense international attention, with major global outlets covering the country’s renewed attempt at democratic transition after years of disputed polls. Reports highlight both the festive atmosphere across Bangladesh and concerns about the electoral environment and minority safety.

The Guardian emphasized worries over the rise of Islamist parties and potential threats to women’s rights, noting that many women who led the revolution now face uncertainty. Al Jazeera focused on the alliance between the National Council Party (NCP) and Jamaat-e-Islami, suggesting that smaller parties could influence the outcome between the main contenders, BNP and Jamaat. The Associated Press described the vote as a test for democratic norms and minority rights after a decade of political repression.

Indian and Western media, including The Hindu, NDTV, Reuters, The New York Times, and The Washington Post, also reported extensively, highlighting security risks, economic hopes, and the symbolic importance of this election for Bangladesh’s democratic future.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman has said his party is confident of winning the people's mandate and forming a government on its own. In an interview with German news agency Deutsche Welle on Wednesday, he stated that a balanced state requires an opposition, adding that if everyone joins the government, the country cannot function properly. He returned to Bangladesh after 17 years abroad and discussed election preparations, youth expectations, foreign policy, and women's empowerment.

Rahman said he expects the election to be fair, reflecting the people's hopes. He described balancing political and personal challenges as his biggest test, noting his mother’s death shortly after his return. He emphasized inclusive development, with plans for youth, women, the elderly, and people with disabilities. On foreign relations, he said Bangladesh’s interests would guide ties with India and China. He also called for women’s economic empowerment to increase their political participation.

Addressing criticism over non-participation by the Awami League, Rahman said political acceptance comes from the people, not force. He defended nominations of loan defaulters, distinguishing between debt and corruption, and affirmed the right to justice for victims of enforced disappearances.

Members of the European Union (EU) observation team visited Madaripur on Wednesday to assess the electoral environment ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections. They toured several upazilas, met with presiding officers, election commission officials, and returning officers, and spoke with voters at different polling centers. The EU representatives expressed satisfaction with the overall situation observed during their visit.

Long-term observers Eva Molt and Lars Jirong Fordal stated that they had visited all three parliamentary constituencies in Madaripur and found the situation to be good so far. The two-member team has been monitoring the district for a month and plans to release a preliminary report on February 14, followed by a full report two months later. Election officials assured the EU team of full cooperation to ensure a free and fair election.

According to the returning officer, 25 candidates are contesting across three constituencies, with 381 polling centers—224 marked as vulnerable and 157 as general. Security measures include deployment of police, Ansar, army, BGB, and RAB personnel, along with 24 executive magistrates overseeing the voting process.