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.

The administration has handed over Thakurgaon district Jamaat-e-Islami chief Belal Uddin Pradhan to his family along with the money that was seized during his detention. The handover took place on Wednesday night after he had been hospitalized at Rangpur Medical College Hospital for treatment following his arrest earlier in the day at Saidpur Airport in Nilphamari with a large amount of cash.

At a press conference, the Rangpur district Jamaat chief confirmed that Belal Uddin was seriously ill and under medical care. He stated that the family had verified his release and that further details would be known once Belal recovered. He also alleged that a section of the administration and the media had conducted false propaganda throughout the day to damage the party’s reputation, which the party protested.

The report did not specify the reason for Belal Uddin’s detention or the source of the money, leaving those details unclear.

Law enforcement officials in Lakshmipur detained a vehicle carrying Tk 1.5 million at a checkpoint in the Jhumur area on Wednesday night. The car, used by Badrul Alam Shyamal, a senior vice president of the district Krishak Dal and cousin of BNP candidate Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie, was stopped around 8 p.m. The money was later verified as part of Annie’s election fund, and both the cash and the detainee were released following judicial review.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Rezaul Haque confirmed that the money was declared to the judicial magistrate, who found all documents valid and ordered the release without penalty. Judge Tahrina Akter Nowrin of the Lakshmipur District and Sessions Judge Court also confirmed the verification process. Police officials dismissed social media claims about irregularities, stating that the release followed proper legal scrutiny.

BNP candidate Annie said the funds were allocated for election expenses across polling centers and that the detained agents were freed after authorities confirmed the legitimacy of the money. The incident occurred amid heightened election security operations in the district.

In Dhaka-6 constituency, Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Dr. Abdul Mannan, supported by an 11-party alliance, alleged that three of his workers were unfairly sentenced by a magistrate. He made the claim at an emergency press conference held Wednesday night at Shaheed Junaid Square near Dhupkhola playground in the capital. Mannan stated that the workers were preparing envelopes containing money for challenging fake votes, as permitted by the Election Commission, when BNP activists allegedly attacked them. He said police and a magistrate arrived but sentenced his workers without a hearing.

Dr. Mannan argued that keeping money for challenging fake votes was not illegal and that the punishment disrupted a fair voting environment. He further alleged that BNP activists attacked his polling agents and a presiding officer at Jubilee School, injuring several people, while police and army personnel restored order but made no arrests. Mannan said he would take legal action over the incidents.

He accused the administration of partiality and claimed that BNP activists were trying to intimidate Jamaat supporters out of fear of electoral defeat.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has called an urgent press conference in Dhaka. The announcement was confirmed by the party’s media cell member Shayrul Kabir Khan, who informed that the event will take place at 11 p.m. on Wednesday, February 11, at the BNP’s election management office in Gulshan.

According to the information provided, the press conference will be addressed by Nazrul Islam Khan, a member of the BNP’s standing committee and chairman of the party’s election management committee. However, no details have been released regarding the specific issue or topic that prompted the urgent call for the press briefing.

The lack of immediate clarification on the subject matter has drawn attention to the timing and urgency of the announcement, but further information is expected to be shared during the scheduled event.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman visited senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed at Square Hospital in Dhaka on Wednesday night. Rizvi was admitted to the hospital on Tuesday after suffering from fever, cold, and breathing difficulties.

Rizvi Ahmed has been serving as the member secretary of the BNP’s election management committee. His illness and hospitalization prompted the party chief to visit him personally, reflecting concern within the party’s senior leadership.

The report did not provide details about Rizvi’s current health condition or the duration of his hospital stay.

Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, spokesperson and head of the election steering committee of the National Citizens Party (NCP), alleged that weapons were being stockpiled in several areas ahead of the election and urged joint forces to conduct operations by Wednesday night. He made the call during a press conference at the party’s temporary central office in Dhaka’s Banglamotor on Wednesday night.

Bhuiyan accused the media of being dominated by the BNP and acting in a one-sided and irresponsible manner. He claimed that under the guise of money recovery drives, personal freedoms were being violated, citing incidents where political leaders were harassed for carrying small amounts of money. He also criticized what he described as widespread extortion over the past 17 months and questioned whether keeping a laptop at home could now be considered a crime.

The NCP spokesperson further alleged bias among election officials and law enforcement, as well as attacks on NCP and alliance candidates. He called on all responsible institutions to ensure a level playing field until the election concludes.

Law enforcement officials in Lakshmipur recovered 1.5 million taka from a vehicle used by Badrul Alam Shyamal, a district Krishak Dal leader and cousin of BNP candidate Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie. The vehicle, displaying campaign posters for Annie, was stopped at a security checkpoint in the Jhumur area around 8 p.m. on Wednesday. After verification, authorities released Shyamal along with the money.

District and Sessions Judge Taherina Akter Nowrin, a member of the election investigation and judicial committee, confirmed the incident but did not provide further details. According to witnesses and the election monitoring team, Shyamal was traveling in a campaign vehicle when the money was discovered. He was taken to the court, where the judge instructed him to show cause within half an hour before releasing him.

Additional Superintendent of Police Mohammad Rezaul Haque stated that the money was verified as part of the election fund with valid documentation, and therefore no fine or penalty was imposed.

Army personnel recovered Tk 1.5 million from the campaign vehicle of Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie, the BNP candidate for Lakshmipur-3 (Sadar) constituency, and detained his personal assistant Badrul Alam Shyamal. The incident was confirmed to journalists on Wednesday night by Executive Magistrate and Election Inquiry Committee member Tahmina Akter Nowrin.

Following the incident, Annie released a video statement through the BNP Media Cell’s Facebook page, explaining that the seized money was intended for center-based fees related to election activities. He said the authorities had already verified the matter and released the funds through the court. Annie described the news reports about the seizure as misleading and alleged that they were aimed at damaging his public image.

Annie urged people not to be confused by the reports and strongly protested what he called deliberate attempts to tarnish his reputation.

A delegation of Turkish parliamentarians and the Turkish ambassador to Bangladesh held a courtesy meeting with BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at the BNP chairperson’s political office in Gulshan, Dhaka. The meeting was confirmed by BNP Media Cell member Shayrul Kabir Khan.

From the BNP side, Tarique Rahman, Joint Secretary General Humayun Kabir, and Chairperson’s Adviser Enamul Haque Chowdhury attended the meeting. The Turkish election observation team included Mehmet Akif Yilmaz (MP), Adem Yildirim, H.E. M. Osman Mestan, Burhan Kayaturk, Ahmet Ozturk, Ayse Sibol Ezi, Sait Demir, Mehmet Ozkan, Ali Fazil Kasap, and Mehmet Vakur Erkul.

The report described the meeting as a courtesy visit between the Turkish delegation and the BNP leadership, but no further details about the discussions or outcomes were provided.

On the eve of the national election, several individuals were detained across Bangladesh for carrying large sums of money, including 7.4 million taka seized from Thakurgaon Jamaat leader Belal Uddin at Saidpur Airport and 1.5 million taka recovered from BNP candidate Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie’s campaign vehicle in Lakshmipur. These incidents sparked public curiosity about the legal limit for carrying cash during the election period.

A media report had earlier quoted Election Commission Secretary Akhtar Ahmed as saying there was no limit on carrying money if its source and use were legitimate, even up to 50 million taka. However, Ahmed later denied making such a statement, clarifying that he had neither the authority nor the capacity to comment on financial matters. In response to the confusion, Bangladesh Bank Executive Director and spokesperson Arif Hossain Khan stated that there is no fixed limit on carrying cash under normal circumstances, but any specific restrictions during elections would depend on directives from the Election Commission.

The clarification aims to address public uncertainty over financial regulations during the election period.

The Chinese Embassy in Dhaka has described recent comments by US Ambassador Brent Christensen about China as deliberate and misleading. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the embassy’s spokesperson said the ambassador again targeted China-Bangladesh relations, oversimplifying and misrepresenting them. The spokesperson added that such remarks were driven by hidden motives.

The embassy emphasized that China and Bangladesh maintain mutual respect and support, citing their friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation as a model example. It stated that China is a trusted partner of South Asian countries and that its cooperation promotes peace, stability, development, and revitalization in the region. According to the embassy, these relationships are welcomed and supported by local people.

The statement further asserted that China’s relations with Bangladesh and other South Asian nations are not directed against any third party and will not be influenced by external forces. It warned that any attempt to interfere with or obstruct these relationships would fail. The remarks followed the US ambassador’s earlier statement to Reuters expressing concern over China’s growing influence in South Asia.

The army recovered Tk 1.5 million from the campaign vehicle of BNP candidate Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee in Lakshmipur-3 (Sadar) constituency. His personal assistant, Badrul Alam Shyamal, was detained during the operation. The incident occurred on Wednesday evening at Jhumur Gol Chattar in the district town. Executive Magistrate and member of the Election Investigation and Inquiry Committee, Tahmina Akter Nowrin, confirmed the matter to journalists that night.

According to the administration, the seized car was being used as Anee’s campaign vehicle, and Shyamal, who is Anee’s cousin, was in possession of the money. The army detained him along with the car and the cash. The Election Investigation and Judicial Committee issued a show-cause notice to the detainee within half an hour of the seizure.

Authorities have not disclosed further details about the source or intended use of the money, and no additional statements from the candidate or his party were included in the report.

Dr. Tasnim Jara, a former leader of the Nationalist Citizen Party (NCP), is contesting as an independent candidate in the Dhaka-9 constituency for the 13th National Election. On Wednesday, she posted on her verified Facebook page advising voters not to cast their ballots for individuals who threaten or offer money in exchange for votes. She emphasized that no one can know whom a voter supports inside the booth and urged citizens to reject those who attempt to influence them through fear or financial incentives.

Tasnim Jara is running under the football symbol, while her main opponent in the constituency is BNP-nominated candidate Habibur Rashid Habib. Her message highlights concerns about voter intimidation and vote-buying practices ahead of the election. The post reflects her appeal for ethical voting behavior and resistance to coercion or corruption in the electoral process.

The statement comes amid heightened political activity in Dhaka-9 as candidates intensify their campaigns before the upcoming national polls.