Interim government Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus may deliver a national address before the upcoming referendum and the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The announcement was made by his Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam at a press conference held at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka on Monday, following a special meeting of the Advisory Council. However, the exact date and time of the address have not been disclosed.

According to the press secretary, he expects the Chief Adviser to speak to the nation before the voting takes place. The referendum and the 13th National Parliamentary Election are scheduled for February 12. The statement indicates preparations are underway for the Chief Adviser’s possible address, which is expected to occur before the polling day.

The announcement comes as the country approaches a significant electoral event combining both the referendum and the parliamentary election, underscoring the interim government’s engagement with the public ahead of the vote.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has imposed an 82.5-hour restriction on individuals staying outside their home areas in connection with the 13th National Parliamentary Election and the national referendum. The directive, issued on Monday by EC Senior Assistant Secretary Md. Shahidul Islam, was sent to all district commissioners, superintendents of police, and police commissioners across the country to ensure fair and neutral elections.

According to the instruction, only persons directly involved in election activities, those authorized by the EC, and residents or voters of the concerned constituencies will be allowed to remain in the election areas. The restriction will be effective from 7:00 a.m. on February 10 until 4:30 p.m. on February 13, covering the period from 48 hours before the start of voting to 24 hours after its completion.

The EC stated that the measure aims to maintain a peaceful, impartial, and influence-free environment during the election and referendum process.

National Citizen Party (NCP) spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan warned that no vote riggers, terrorists, or mafia members would be allowed to remain at polling centers. He issued the warning on Monday, February 9, during an election rally in support of Nasiruddin Patwari, the NCP’s chief coordinator and candidate for the Dhaka-8 constituency.

Asif Mahmud alleged that a rival political party had nominated loan defaulters, foreign nationals, extortionists, mafia figures, and terrorists as candidates. He claimed that the party knew it had already been rejected by the people of Bangladesh and was therefore planning to seize polling centers and manipulate votes to secure victory. He also criticized the Election Commission for issuing what he described as “new surprises,” including a temporary ban on mobile phones inside polling booths, which was later withdrawn under pressure.

The remarks reflect the NCP’s concern over electoral integrity and its criticism of both rival parties and the Election Commission’s decisions ahead of the upcoming election.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman addressed an election rally on Monday at Pir Jangi Mazar Road in Dhaka-8 constituency, emphasizing that only local people can effectively solve local problems. He said the upcoming election is not merely about a change of power but about rebuilding the nation’s future. Rahman formally handed over the party’s symbol to Mirza Abbas, the BNP candidate for Dhaka-8, urging voters to elect him on the 12th and promising continued support from the next day.

He announced several pledges, including a Family Card program to provide monthly government assistance to housewives and working women, creation of ten million jobs within five years, and establishment of vocational, technological, and IT training institutes in every district. Rahman also promised to recruit 100,000 health workers to deliver primary healthcare to mothers, children, and women, and to introduce allowances for religious leaders of all faiths. He reaffirmed a zero-tolerance stance on corruption and said a future BNP government would be a people’s government.

Rahman concluded by calling the BNP’s symbol, the paddy sheaf, a representation of Bangladesh’s independence and sovereignty, urging citizens to vote for national reconstruction.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman stated that establishing justice is essential to building the desired Bangladesh. He made the remarks in a televised address to the nation broadcast on Bangladesh Television (BTV) at 6:15 p.m. on Monday. In his speech, he also emphasized maintaining relations with other countries based on mutual respect.

The address came just days before the national election scheduled for Thursday, February 12, when voting will take place across the country from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The previous day, on Sunday, February 8, Islami Andolan Bangladesh Ameer Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim and National Citizen Party (NCP) convener Nahid Islam also delivered their respective national addresses.

The series of speeches from political leaders reflects heightened political activity ahead of the nationwide vote, as parties outline their visions and priorities for the country.

A petition was filed in the High Court on Monday seeking suspension of NCP convener Nahid Islam’s candidacy over allegations of dual citizenship. The petition, submitted by Shamim Ahmed, the Jatiya Party candidate for Dhaka-11, claims that Nahid Islam obtained citizenship of the Caribbean nation of Dominica on April 20, 2025.

Responding to the allegation, Mahabub Alam, joint chief coordinator and head of the NCP’s election media subcommittee, dismissed the claim as false and absurd. He stated that Nahid Islam has only visited Malaysia and China in his lifetime and has never traveled to any other country. Alam argued that it is impossible for Nahid to have acquired citizenship in a country he has never visited. He further alleged that the Jatiya Party’s petition was influenced by a BNP candidate seeking to divert attention from his own dual citizenship issue.

The High Court petition introduces a new legal challenge for Nahid Islam ahead of the election, though the court’s next steps on the matter were not detailed in the report.

Jatiya Party candidate Shamim Ahmed has filed a writ petition seeking the cancellation of NCP candidate Md. Nahid Islam’s nomination for the Dhaka-11 constituency. The petition, submitted on Monday, accuses Nahid Islam of holding dual citizenship. The Chief Election Commissioner, the Election Commission secretary, the returning officer, and Nahid Islam have been named as respondents. Lawyers indicated that a hearing on the matter could take place on Tuesday.

According to the petition, Nahid Islam allegedly obtained citizenship of Dominica on April 20, 2025, and concealed this information. The issue of foreign citizenship has also surfaced in a separate case, as Nahid Islam’s appeal against BNP candidate M A Kaiyum on similar grounds is expected to be heard on Tuesday. Other candidates in the Dhaka-11 constituency include representatives from BNP, Gano Forum, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, and several smaller parties.

The court’s upcoming hearing could determine whether Nahid Islam remains eligible to contest the election in Dhaka-11.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman has called for unity and collective effort to rebuild the country, urging people to stop talking and start working. He made the remarks on Monday at a public rally held at Basabo Tarun Sangha field in Dhaka in support of BNP candidate Habibur Rashid Habib for the Dhaka–9 constituency.

Rahman announced that if the BNP wins the election on February 12, development work in Dhaka–9 will begin the very next day. Planned initiatives include building a playground, establishing hospital facilities, improving roads, and addressing waterlogging. He also pledged to replace bamboo bridges in the area with permanent structures. Highlighting BNP’s past record, Rahman said former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia had established the Anti-Corruption Commission and allowed it to operate independently, giving the party experience in combating corruption.

He praised Khaleda Zia’s development-oriented leadership and asked why Bangladesh could not transform itself as other nations have done, calling on citizens to unite for national progress. The rally saw the presence of local leaders and a large number of supporters.

Bangladesh Coast Guard Director General Rear Admiral Mohammad Ziaul Haque announced that 200 Coast Guard members have been deployed to 22 polling centers in the Meghna coastal area of Chandpur ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election. He made the statement on February 9, 2026, after inspecting a joint election drill involving the Coast Guard, Naval Police, and local police at Bahadurpur Government Primary School field in Matlab North upazila.

Ziaul Haque said the force is fully prepared to ensure a free, fair, and peaceful election. He noted that law enforcement agencies will use apps, cameras, and drones to maintain order. Nationwide, 3,585 Coast Guard members in 100 platoons are stationed across coastal and riverine areas from January 18 to February 14, covering 332 polling centers in 69 unions across districts including Narayanganj, Chandpur, Khulna, Chattogram, and Bhola.

The Director General expressed confidence that their presence has built public trust and will help create a festive environment during voting in coastal regions.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh will use advanced drone technology for the first time to monitor security and law and order during the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election and referendum scheduled for February 12. Drones from the Air Force, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) will provide live aerial surveillance of polling areas. A letter signed by Senior Assistant Secretary Md. Shahidul Islam requested the armed forces’ Principal Staff Officer, and the heads of BGB and RAB, to take necessary measures for the operation.

According to the EC’s plan, each of the three forces will deploy their own drones. The live video feed will be transmitted directly to the EC Secretariat’s Law and Order Coordination Cell, while the Air Force feed will also be displayed at the Chief Adviser’s Office. The EC believes this system will help quickly assess ground realities and support timely decision-making during the election.

The EC’s latest data shows Bangladesh has 127,711,739 registered voters, including 64,825,361 men, 62,885,200 women, and 1,232 transgender voters.

The Government of Bangladesh has declared a general public holiday on Thursday, February 12, when the 13th National Parliamentary Election and a national referendum will be held. According to a notification from the Ministry of Public Administration, all government, semi-government, autonomous, private offices, and educational institutions will remain closed on election day. However, several essential services and specific personnel are exempt from the holiday to ensure public convenience and smooth election operations.

Hospitals, fire service, electricity, gas, water, and emergency telecommunication services will continue to operate. Media organizations, including newspapers, online news portals, and television channels, along with their staff, are also exempt. Law enforcement agencies such as police, Ansar, RAB, and the army deployed for election duties will remain active. Election officials including returning officers, presiding officers, assistant presiding officers, and polling officers will perform their duties as scheduled.

The Election Commission Secretariat and its field offices will remain open throughout the day to manage election activities, while teachers and bank employees assigned to polling duties will also work despite the general holiday.

Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) Vice President and student leader Sadiq Kayem has submitted four demands to the Election Commission. In a Facebook post on Monday afternoon, he stated that the demands include withdrawing the decision to ban mobile phone use within 400 yards of polling centers and ensuring reasonable mobile access for voters and officials.

The other demands are to revoke the decision not to deploy BNCC at polling centers, ensure a level playing field for all political parties and candidates, and maintain complete neutrality of the administration and law enforcement agencies to guarantee a free, fair, and impartial election. In response, the Election Commission reportedly assured that it would issue a new circular canceling the mobile phone ban and reconsider the BNCC deployment decision, along with taking appropriate measures regarding the remaining demands.

The exchange highlights ongoing discussions between student representatives and the Election Commission over election management and fairness measures ahead of upcoming polls.

Former Bangladesh Army Chief General Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan testified that during his tenure, individuals linked to India’s intelligence agency ‘R’ regularly visited the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) office and operated from one of its seven meeting rooms. He stated that these visitors, reportedly under the patronage of retired Major General Tariq Siddiqi, provided DGFI with lists of people they identified as militants. Bhuiyan made these remarks on Monday while giving testimony before International Crimes Tribunal-1 in a case against Ziaul Ahsan concerning enforced disappearances and killings.

In his statement, Bhuiyan explained that as army chief he had multiple sources of information, including the Army Security Unit, the Directorate of Military Intelligence, and discussions with officers from the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB). Through these channels, he learned that some junior officers were being misled and drawn into wrongful activities. He cited three specific incidents involving officers who admitted to killings during their service, describing his efforts to confront and counsel them about their actions.

The testimony highlighted Bhuiyan’s concerns about external influence and ethical lapses within military and law enforcement ranks, as presented in the tribunal proceedings.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has directed authorities to ensure uninterrupted telecommunications across the country during the 13th National Parliamentary Election and the national referendum scheduled for February 12. The instruction, issued by Senior Assistant Secretary Md. Shahidul Islam, was sent to the secretaries of four key ministries: Local Government, Road Transport and Highways, Power, and Posts and Telecommunications. The EC emphasized that no road repair or development work should disrupt critical transmission connections during this period.

According to the EC’s letter, fast and uninterrupted communication is essential for election operations. It instructed that any highway or road development work before or after the election must be coordinated with the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to prevent damage to underground optical fiber or vital telecom lines.

EC Secretariat sources said the decision aims to maintain live drone feeds, ensure continuous data exchange from polling centers, and prevent accidental internet or phone disconnections. Over 120 million voters are expected to participate in both the election and the referendum on February 12.

The July Revolutionary Journalist Alliance (JRJA) has announced plans to besiege the Election Commission (EC) if a recent directive banning journalists from using mobile phones within 400 meters of polling centers during the 13th National Parliament election and referendum is not withdrawn by 5 p.m. today. JRJA General Secretary Israfil Farzi declared that the EC’s order constitutes a direct interference with citizens’ rights and an attack on press freedom.

In a statement, Farzi described the restriction as unjustified, discriminatory, and contrary to the principles of free media. He argued that mobile phones are essential tools for journalists in the digital era, enabling real-time reporting and public access to information. Preventing their use, he said, amounts to deliberate control of news flow and undermines transparency and accountability in the electoral process.

The JRJA warned that if the EC fails to revoke the ban within the deadline, journalists will proceed with the planned siege, holding the commission fully responsible for any resulting situation.