Seven leaders of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) in Brahmanbaria’s Sarail upazila have been expelled for supporting independent candidate Barrister Rumin Farhana, who is contesting with the duck symbol, instead of the BNP alliance-backed Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam candidate Maulana Junaid Al Habib, represented by the date tree symbol. The expulsion was confirmed in a notice signed by JCD central office secretary Md Jahangir Alam on Friday night.

According to the notice, the expelled leaders violated party discipline by engaging in open campaign activities for a candidate expelled from the BNP, disregarding the alliance’s official nominee. Their primary memberships and all organizational positions were revoked. Earlier, more than fifty BNP and affiliate leaders in the same constituency had been expelled on similar grounds, and the Shahjadapur Union BNP committee was suspended.

Former upazila JCD convener Jamal Hossain Laskar stated that supporting the alliance’s nominated candidate is mandatory under party rules, and action was taken based on verified information about the expelled members’ involvement with the independent campaign.

The Election Commission (EC) announced on Saturday, February 7, that a total of 309,110 postal ballots sent from across Bangladesh and abroad have reached the respective returning officers. According to the EC’s statement, 766,862 ballot papers were sent to expatriate voters in various countries, of which 527,033 were received by voters. Among them, 494,185 voters cast their votes, and 468,091 ballots were submitted through postal services. Out of these, 422,960 ballots arrived in Bangladesh, and 225,168 were received by returning officers.

Within the country, 694,146 postal ballots were distributed to registered voters, including government employees, law enforcement personnel, and prisoners eligible for postal voting. Of these, 381,007 voters received their ballots, 321,695 cast votes, and 276,272 submitted them via post. Returning officers have so far received 83,942 of these ballots.

The EC confirmed that a total of 1.533 million voters, both domestic and overseas, registered to vote by postal ballot for the upcoming national election and referendum scheduled for February 12.

The Bangladesh Army has identified Dhaka-14 and Dhaka-16 constituencies as highly risky among three constituencies in the capital, according to Mirpur Camp Commander Lieutenant Colonel S M Fuad Masroor. Speaking at a press conference on Saturday at the Shaheed Suhrawardy Indoor Stadium in Mirpur, he said 18 percent of polling centers in Dhaka-14, 16, and 18 have been marked as risky, with two of them categorized as highly risky.

Fuad Masroor explained that polling centers have been divided into three categories—general, moderate, and highly risky—based on their vulnerability levels. The army is maintaining maximum alert to ensure voters can reach polling centers safely. Security measures are being implemented according to the risk classification, and the army will act as a striking force to maintain a peaceful election environment.

He also urged journalists to verify information before reporting on any incidents of unrest or sabotage during the election period to prevent misinformation. The army will ensure the safety of both candidates and media workers, and any signs of risky situations should be immediately reported to law enforcement authorities.

The Bangladesh Coast Guard has been deployed across coastal and riverine areas to maintain peace and order ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election and Referendum 2026. Coast Guard media officer Lieutenant Commander Siam-ul-Haq confirmed the deployment on Saturday, February 7, 2026. The force began its 28-day duty on January 18 and will continue until February 14, covering remote and critical coastal polling centers.

According to the Coast Guard, members are operating under the Western Zone in Khulna-1, Khulna-6, and Pirojpur-3 constituencies, including Dacope, Koyra, and Mathbaria upazilas. They are stationed at 66 polling centers across 16 unions. Special intelligence surveillance, drone monitoring, and regular patrols are being conducted to ensure a festive and peaceful voting environment.

The interim government has scheduled the referendum on the same day as the election to promote accountability and public welfare. The Coast Guard stated it remains vigilant to prevent violence, safeguard voters’ rights, and assist other law enforcement agencies in ensuring overall security and communal harmony in its operational areas.

BNP candidate for Dhaka-6, Ishraq Hossain, has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission (EC) expressing fears of polling center occupation and fake voters ahead of the election. On Saturday, he met EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed at the Election Building and demanded action against those involved, including a request to change a polling center after weapons and sticks were recovered there.

Ishraq said police recovered 152 thick sticks from the Cosmopolitan School center in Sutrapur on February 4, a property owned by the rival political party Jamaat-e-Islami. He alleged that the local police officer delayed action by four hours, allowing firearms and more sticks to be removed. Citing this as a sign of bias and negligence, he demanded the officer’s replacement and relocation of the center to ensure fair voting.

He added that although the Dhaka-6 environment remains relatively calm, the discovery of weapons and reports of fake voters in several holdings have raised concerns. Ishraq emphasized that his campaign seeks a peaceful and credible election.

Bangladesh Ship Breakers Association (BSBA) president Amjad Hossain Chowdhury has joined the campaign in support of BNP candidate Professor Aslam Chowdhury for the Chattogram-4 (Sitakunda) constituency. On Saturday morning, he conducted public outreach and street meetings in several areas of Sitakunda municipality, including Bholagiri Ashram, Nij Taluk, Bhuiya Para, and Sitakunda College Road. During the campaign, he interacted with residents, shopkeepers, and businesspeople, urging them to vote for the paddy sheaf symbol to ensure Aslam Chowdhury’s victory.

Amjad Hossain Chowdhury stated that sustainable development in Sitakunda, industrial safety, workers’ rights, and employment protection require honest, capable, and people-oriented leadership. He described Aslam Chowdhury as an educated and experienced leader closely connected with the community. According to him, if elected, Aslam Chowdhury would be able to address long-standing deprivation in the region and advance local development.

The campaign for the paddy sheaf symbol in Sitakunda is reportedly gaining momentum as the election approaches, with increasing participation from local and industrial leaders.

Dr. Zubaida Rahman, wife of the BNP chairperson, extended humanitarian support to victims of a devastating fire in Dhaka’s Bhashantek area on Saturday, February 7, 2026. The fire destroyed homes and belongings, leaving many families in severe distress. She visited the affected site to oversee relief activities and distributed essential items to help families resume daily life.

Alongside distributing relief materials, a medical camp was set up to provide healthcare services to affected women, children, and the elderly. Experienced doctors conducted health checkups and supplied necessary medicines. The initiative aimed to address both immediate needs and health concerns of the victims.

Local residents reportedly felt relief and reassurance from the coordinated assistance and medical support. The effort, joined by BNP adviser Bir Muktijoddha Abdus Salam, Dr. Farhad Halim Donar, and local party members, was described as a humanitarian example in response to the sudden disaster.

Political scientist Professor Dilara Chowdhury has alleged that a neighboring country is attempting to sabotage Bangladesh’s upcoming 13th national election. Speaking at a seminar held on Saturday afternoon at the RAOWA Club in Dhaka’s Mohakhali, organized jointly by the Retired Armed Forces Officers’ Welfare Association and the RAOWA Research and Study Forum, she claimed that the neighboring country does not want a fair election in Bangladesh and urged citizens to remain vigilant.

During her remarks, Professor Chowdhury said that a few individuals involved in the July revolution had engaged in extortion, but that did not invalidate the broader movement, which she said had the participation of marginalized communities. She criticized the country’s elite class for allegedly siphoning money abroad and called for national unity, urging voters to choose honest candidates regardless of party affiliation.

Other speakers at the event, including Lt. Col. Modachher Hossain, Lt. Col. Hasinur Rahman, and Major (Retd.) Barrister Sarwar, discussed issues such as inequality, leadership, and the need for anti-hegemony declarations from political parties, emphasizing the demand for a fair election.

BNP candidate for Moulvibazar-3 constituency, M Naser Rahman, announced that he will introduce a bill in parliament to ensure the rights of tea workers if elected. Speaking at an election rally on Friday evening at the Nach Mandir in Rajnagar Tea Garden, he said that under a BNP government, women from tea worker families would receive a family card providing essential goods worth about Tk2,500 per month. He also pledged to raise the daily wage of tea workers to Tk245, aligning with international standards.

Rahman recalled that tea workers’ daily wages had once been only Tk35, which was raised to Tk120 during the governments of former finance minister M Saifur Rahman and former prime minister Khaleda Zia. He criticized the current government for increasing wages by only Tk50 over fifteen years. Addressing the workers, he urged them to support the BNP’s symbol in the upcoming February 12 national election.

He emphasized that the BNP has always worked for tea workers and promised to continue efforts to improve their wages and benefits through legislative initiatives if elected.

BNP candidate for Dhaka-8, Mirza Abbas, has accused the Election Commission of failing to act responsibly. Speaking to journalists during a campaign event in the Shantinagar area of Dhaka on Saturday, February 7, he said that despite submitting several complaints, he has not received any response from the commission, which he described as very unfortunate.

Abbas alleged that a particular political party appears overly confident about winning the election, suggesting bias in the process. He stated that while the election is being presented as participatory, partiality is evident, which he termed as harmful. He questioned whether a false result would be used to enter parliament, calling such a scenario unacceptable.

He urged voters to overcome all conspiracies and exercise their voting rights properly on election day, emphasizing that the people alone should decide who they elect.

BNP Central Election Steering Committee spokesperson and chairman’s adviser Mahdi Amin has alleged that a political party is preparing for planned election engineering. Speaking at a press conference at the BNP’s election office in Gulshan on Saturday, he said the involvement of that party’s leaders in the production of fake voting seals in Lakshmipur is clear evidence of the plan. He further claimed that a large number of burqas and niqabs are being made to misuse religious sentiments for casting fake votes.

Amin stated that a printing press owner arrested in connection with the illegal seals confessed in court that the seals were made under the instruction of a Jamaat-e-Islami leader. He urged the Election Commission to ensure the appointment of sufficient female polling officers, especially in women’s booths, and to verify voter identities by face as per law and regulations.

He also alleged irregularities in the appointment of election observers and called on the Election Commission and the government to ensure a level playing field for a free, fair, and neutral election.

A fire broke out at the election office of Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Maulana Md. Borhan Uddin in the Noakhali-3 Begumganj constituency late Friday night. The incident occurred in Dineshganj area of Rasulpur Union’s Ward No. 2 under Begumganj upazila. No casualties were reported, but furniture and a campaign autorickshaw were burned in the blaze.

According to local Jamaat sources, unidentified miscreants set fire to the office and fled the scene. The candidate, Maulana Borhan Uddin, condemned the attack, calling it a cowardly act intended to disrupt the democratic environment and spread fear among voters. He demanded a proper investigation and exemplary punishment for those responsible.

Begumganj Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Shamsuzzaman said police visited the site after receiving the report and that an investigation is underway to identify those involved and take legal action.

Bangladesh is set to hold its parliamentary election on February 12, 2026, following the 2024 downfall of former autocrat Sheikh Hasina. The vote will coincide with a referendum on the July Charter. The two main contenders for the 300 parliamentary seats are the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), leading a 10-party alliance, and Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh (JIB), heading an 11-party coalition that includes the National Citizen Party (NCP). The Awami League remains banned from political activity. Other participants include Islami Andolan Bangladesh and the Jatiya Party, both running independently.

BNP, led by Tarique Rahman, son of late Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, has re-emerged as a major force since his return from exile in December 2025. Rahman has pledged inclusive governance and infrastructure development. Academic observers note the party’s renewed organization and growing public engagement. In contrast, Jamaat, led by Shafiqur Rahman, has sought to expand its base and counter concerns over its Islamist agenda by fielding a Hindu candidate for the first time.

Interim leader Dr. Muhammad Yunus and Army Chief General Waker-uz-Zaman are seen as key figures ensuring stability during the polls, while exiled Hasina continues to criticize the process from India.

AB Party Chairman Mujibur Rahman Manju has alleged that recent police actions against Inquilab Mancha activists indicate a conspiracy surrounding the upcoming election. Speaking on Saturday morning in Feni, he condemned what he described as a brutal police attack on students and civilians during a protest demanding justice for the killing of Osman Hadi. The event took place after a bicycle rally organized by the Feni city branch of Islami Chhatra Shibir in support of Manju, the 11-party alliance candidate for the Feni-2 constituency.

Manju criticized the police for failing to protect Osman Hadi or apprehend his killers, accusing them instead of targeting innocent people. He said the behavior of law enforcement reflected anger and violent tendencies, suggesting the incident might have been intentional. According to him, such actions could be part of a broader attempt to send a political message ahead of the national election.

He further warned that the visible bias of the administration and police could signal deeper unrest, hinting at the possibility of a major upheaval if such trends continue.

Allegations have emerged that BNP activists obstructed the election campaign of the 11-party ‘Oikyo Boddho Bangladesh’ alliance, which includes Jamaat and NCP, in Dhaka-18 constituency. The incidents reportedly occurred on Friday across several areas, including Khilkhet’s Ward 48, where campaign leaflets were forcibly taken away after Jumma prayers. Local BNP leader Murad Kazi and his associates allegedly seized leaflets distributed in support of the Shapla Koli symbol and threatened campaigners with consequences if they went to polling centers on February 12.

The NCP claimed that alliance workers were intimidated during the campaign, with threats of assault if they continued campaigning in the area. A campaign rickshaw with loudspeakers was also reportedly taken away by BNP activists in the Borua Bazar area. Female members of the alliance were allegedly subjected to verbal abuse while campaigning for the Shapla Koli symbol.

Ariful Islam, the alliance’s candidate for Dhaka-18, condemned the incidents, calling them attempts to derail a fair election and demanded justice against those responsible.