Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M Nasir Uddin has called on all citizens to maintain peace and harmony during the upcoming parliamentary election and referendum. In a televised address to the nation on Wednesday evening, he urged voters to come to polling centers spontaneously, cast their votes, and accept the results with respect. He emphasized that collective participation would make the election meaningful and successful.

In his message, the CEC paid tribute to the martyrs of the Liberation War and the July uprising, noting their sacrifices paved the way for the country’s democratic progress. He described voting as not only a right but also a civic duty, urging citizens to exercise it responsibly to strengthen democratic institutions. He also appealed to election officials, law enforcement, journalists, and observers to perform their duties sincerely and assist in managing any unforeseen situations.

Nasir Uddin expressed optimism that through joint efforts, the nation would witness a fair, peaceful, and festive election, with enthusiastic voter participation ensuring its success.

The Director General of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) announced that a special nationwide security plan has been implemented ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election and Referendum 2026. Speaking to reporters after inspecting polling centers in Dhaka on Wednesday, he said RAB is fully prepared to ensure that citizens can exercise their voting rights in a safe and peaceful environment. Under the Election Commission’s directive, RAB is operating as mobile and striking forces across all electoral areas from February 8 to 14.

According to the RAB chief, around 700 patrol teams are currently active across the country, supported by reserve striking units in each battalion and camp. Thirty patrol teams under RAB headquarters are on standby as central reserves for emergencies. Dog squads have been deployed in Dhaka, Chattogram, Rajshahi, and Cox’s Bazar, while bomb disposal units have been divided into seven zones nationwide. Intelligence officers in plain clothes are gathering information at every constituency, and a cyber monitoring team is tracking online misinformation.

RAB has also intensified checkpoints at key entry and exit points, highways, and sensitive urban areas. The force urged voters to cooperate with law enforcement and report any violence, intimidation, or electoral misconduct immediately.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M Nasir Uddin delivered a televised address to the nation on Wednesday evening, beginning at 7 p.m., ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election and the upcoming referendum. The announcement was made through the online platform of Amar Desh on February 11, 2026.

The speech marked a formal communication from the Election Commission to the public in preparation for the national polls and referendum. The event underscores the commission’s role in guiding the electoral process and informing citizens about key developments related to the election period.

Further details of the address, including its content or specific directives, were not disclosed in the report.

Nasiruddin Patwari, chief coordinator of the NCP and Jamaat alliance candidate for Dhaka-8, has launched a new website aimed at curbing extortion. The platform, chandabaaj.com, went live on Wednesday, fulfilling a promise Patwari had made earlier. He confirmed the launch himself, urging citizens to report any incidents of extortion in their areas with proper evidence so that offenders can be identified and legal action can be taken.

According to the NCP, by Wednesday evening the website had already received eight reports from across the country. The party stated that these submissions will be carefully reviewed and necessary legal measures will follow against those found involved. Patwari emphasized that the initiative reflects his vision of building a Bangladesh free from extortion and corruption.

The launch marks a digital step in community-driven crime reporting, with the NCP pledging to ensure transparency and accountability through the new platform.

Thirty-two executive magistrates will operate mobile courts across Dhaka metropolis for five days starting Tuesday to maintain law and order during the election period. The initiative will be conducted under the supervision of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) of Dhaka. The magistrates have been empowered under sections 89(A), 73(2B), and 74(2B) of the Representation of the People Order, 1972.

According to an official notification signed by Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Md. Sefatullah on behalf of the CMM, the names of the 32 magistrates and their assigned electoral areas have been listed. Each magistrate will report to the respective District Magistrate or Returning Officer after appointment and will keep them informed about mobile court operations.

The empowered magistrates are required to submit daily reports on their activities in a prescribed format to both the District Magistrate and the Returning Officer. The measure aims to ensure effective enforcement of election laws and discipline across Dhaka during the polling period.

Ganosamhati Andolan’s chief coordinator Jonayed Abdur Rahim Saki has said that voter identity must be ensured during polling. Speaking at a press conference held on Wednesday afternoon at Amena Plaza in Brahmanbaria municipality, he emphasized respect for religious attire but noted that it should not hinder voter identification. Saki warned that certain special clothing could facilitate fraudulent voting.

He expressed concern about possible election engineering, alleging that the administration might act in favor of a particular party and overlook irregularities such as fake voting, polling center occupation, and the use of illicit money. Complaints have reportedly been submitted to the administration, which has promised action. Saki further stated that the people of the country would not accept any election engineering attempts and that resistance would be organized if such efforts occur.

The press conference was conducted by Upazila BNP president Mehedi Hasan Palash, with former MP M A Khalek and other leaders in attendance.

Media Watch Bangladesh reported that mainstream media outlets gave the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) more prominence than Jamaat-e-Islami in election campaign coverage over an 18-day period. The findings were presented on Wednesday at the National Press Club by Research Coordinator Plabon Tariq, based on data from nine print, five online, and seven electronic media outlets between January 22 and February 9, 2026.

According to the analysis, print media published 747 BNP-related election reports compared to 364 on Jamaat, while online media carried 1,498 BNP stories and 827 on Jamaat. In television bulletins, BNP received an average of 105 minutes of daily coverage, compared to 54 minutes for Jamaat. The study included major outlets such as Prothom Alo, The Daily Star, Somokal, Kaler Kantho, and Jamuna Television.

Plabon Tariq stated that the purpose of the study was to quantitatively assess how much coverage each party received during the 13th National Parliamentary Election campaign. He emphasized that the analysis was not intended to blame any outlet but showed that most media failed to maintain balance and gave BNP comparatively greater attention.

Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General and head of publicity Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair alleged that a rival political party, having lost public confidence, has turned aggressive through attacks and conspiracies. He made the remarks at a press briefing held on Wednesday at the party’s central office in Moghbazar, Dhaka, ahead of the national election scheduled for February 12. Zubair claimed that Jamaat candidates, agents, and workers were being attacked across the country, including incidents in Dhaka-15, Pabna, Moulvibazar, Barguna, and Cumilla.

He accused the rival party of attempting to disrupt a peaceful voting environment and said that law enforcement and parts of the administration appeared biased. Zubair also condemned an alleged staged incident at Saidpur Airport involving a Jamaat official carrying cash, calling it an attempt to malign the party. He urged law enforcement to remain neutral and perform their duties responsibly.

Zubair concluded by calling on citizens to participate in the election in a festive atmosphere and reaffirmed Jamaat’s commitment to building a “new Bangladesh.”

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman has expressed heartfelt gratitude to the country’s respected pirs, mashayekhs, ulema, imams, and khatibs for their support of the party. His statement came on Wednesday in response to media reports that leading Islamic figures from various schools of thought had declared their backing for the BNP. The announcement was conveyed through a press release signed by his press secretary, A A M Saleh Shibli.

Rahman said the scholars’ stance at this historic moment would guide the nation and help counter misinformation against the BNP as a party rooted in Islamic values. He hoped their position would assist citizens in asserting their political and social rights ahead of the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. He also sought continued cooperation from religious leaders to build a safe and humane Bangladesh for all, regardless of political or religious affiliation.

Several senior Islamic leaders, including those from Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh and the Bangladesh Nezame Islam Party, have publicly endorsed the BNP and its electoral symbol, citing the goal of preserving Islamic values and creating an inclusive, discrimination-free nation.

BNP Election Steering Committee spokesperson Mahdi Amin has said that the party’s victory in the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election is inevitable and that both domestic and international media reflect this view. He made the remarks on Wednesday afternoon at a press conference held at the BNP’s central election office in Gulshan, ahead of the national polls.

During the briefing, Amin referred to the detention of Thakurgaon district Jamaat-e-Islami chief Belal Uddin Pradhan at Saidpur Airport with a bag full of cash. He alleged that certain groups were attempting to create obstacles against BNP’s expected victory. Amin described the incident as a violation of the electoral code of conduct and questioned the source and purpose of the seized money. He further claimed that similar irregularities were occurring in Dhaka-15, Cumilla, Noakhali, and Khulna constituencies.

Amin also alleged that Jamaat activists were collecting voters’ mobile payment numbers and stockpiling local weapons to spread fear. He added that while BNP respects Islamic attire such as burqa and niqab, any misuse of such clothing for fraudulent voting must be prevented.

Brigadier General Muhammad Romeo Naurin Khan, commander of the 6th Infantry Brigade, stated that the Bangladesh Army’s 7th Infantry Division has been deployed across all districts of Barishal Division, as well as in Madaripur and Bagerhat, alongside other law enforcement agencies to ensure free, fair, and neutral elections and referendums. He made the remarks on Wednesday morning in Barishal while addressing a military capability demonstration exercise aimed at handling election-related emergencies.

He emphasized that the army performs its duties professionally and impartially, with the primary goal of ensuring voter safety and maintaining a peaceful voting environment. He warned that anyone attempting to disrupt the process would face strict action. The army is also prepared to deploy reserve forces by helicopter if required, not only in Barishal but anywhere under the 7th Infantry Division across Bangladesh.

The exercise, supervised by the 7th Infantry Division, simulated an unexpected incident at a polling center and its resolution. Senior officials from the Barishal Division administration and law enforcement agencies attended the event.

BNP Election Steering Committee spokesperson and chairman’s adviser Mahdi Amin said the incident at Syedpur Airport cannot be viewed as isolated. He made the remarks at a press conference on Wednesday afternoon, calling on the Election Commission to take action over the matter. Amin referred to reports that police detained the Thakurgaon district Jamaat-e-Islami chief with over half a crore taka after arriving from Dhaka, questioning the purpose of carrying such a large sum on the eve of the election.

He noted that all banking and business transactions had been suspended to prevent illegal financial dealings during the election period, making the incident particularly suspicious. Amin argued that the seizure reflected attempts by certain groups to obstruct BNP’s “inevitable victory” and demonstrated the moral bankruptcy of disconnected political forces seeking unethical influence. He also pointed out that law enforcement had detained several others with money in different areas.

Amin reiterated that these developments indicate broader irregularities rather than isolated events and demanded immediate intervention from the Election Commission.

Bangladesh will hold its 13th National Parliamentary Election and a national referendum on Thursday, February 12, marking the first time in the country’s history that both events occur on the same day. Political parties have completed their campaigns, and officials expect a peaceful and festive voting environment.

Election authorities clarified that voters whose names appear on the official voter list will be allowed to vote even if they do not have their National Identity Card (NID) with them. Polling officers will verify each voter’s identity by matching their name and photograph on the voter list before issuing a ballot paper.

To ensure a smooth and efficient voting process, voters have been advised to check their polling centers and serial numbers in advance. This information will help them locate their designated centers and confirm their positions on the voter list before election day.

A delegation from the Chinese Election Observation Mission met with Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman at his office in Bashundhara, Dhaka, on Wednesday. The meeting was described as cordial and friendly, according to the party’s central publicity department. The four-member delegation was led by senior Chinese diplomat Chen Wei, and they are in Bangladesh to directly observe the country’s voting process.

The observers’ visit is part of the ongoing strategic, economic, and geopolitical engagement between Bangladesh and China. During the meeting, the Chinese representatives expressed hope that the government and people of Bangladesh would successfully conduct the national election scheduled for February 12. They also voiced optimism about the future strengthening of bilateral development and mutual relations between the two nations.

Present at the meeting were Jamaat’s Assistant Secretary General and head of the central publicity and media department Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, National Election Steering Committee member Barrister Saif Uddin Khaled, and the Ameer’s foreign affairs adviser Professor Dr. Mahmudul Hasan.

Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui, Director General of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), has directed his forces to prevent any acts of sabotage, violence, or disorder during the upcoming national parliamentary election scheduled for tomorrow. During visits to several BGB election base camps in Dhaka and surrounding areas on Wednesday, he instructed members to ensure a free, fair, neutral, and peaceful election environment.

The BGB chief inspected camps at Mugda Ideal School and College, Uttara Haji Camp, and Tongi in Gazipur, reviewing the force’s overall readiness, law and order situation, and operational capacity to handle any untoward incidents. He also examined security plans and provided guidance for their proper implementation. Emphasizing professionalism, dedication, and neutrality, he warned that any negligence in maintaining law and order would not be tolerated.

He further instructed BGB personnel to conduct maximum patrols and set up checkpoints to ensure voters can cast their ballots safely and without fear. He urged members to behave politely and responsibly with voters and the public, expressing confidence that BGB will fulfill its duties with honesty and professionalism to safeguard the democratic process and public safety.