A total of 422,960 postal ballots from expatriate voters have arrived in Bangladesh ahead of the upcoming 13th National Parliament election and referendum. The information was confirmed on Saturday by Salim Ahmad Khan, team leader of the OCV-SDI project on expatriate voter registration. As of 10:15 a.m., 766,862 ballots had been sent to registered expatriates through the Postal Vote BD app, with 527,033 ballots received and 494,185 votes already cast. Additionally, 468,091 expatriate voters have submitted their ballots to postal services abroad, and returning officers have so far received 225,168 of them.

The Election Commission has also begun sending postal ballots to voters residing within the country under the ICPV system. So far, 694,146 domestic registered voters have been sent ballots, of which 381,007 have received them. Among these, 321,695 have voted, and 276,272 have submitted their ballots to post offices or drop boxes. Returning officers have received 83,942 domestic ballots.

In total, 1,533,684 voters at home and abroad have registered through the Postal Vote BD app to participate in the election and referendum via postal ballots.

The political alliance July Oikya announced a 'Rally for Bangladesh' program to be held at the Central Shaheed Minar on Saturday at 3 p.m., where it will issue a strong call for 'India Out'. The rally is being organized to protest India's alleged sheltering of those involved in the killing of Shaheed Osman Hadi and the 2024 mass uprising, its dominance in international forums including the ICC, its interference in the last four national elections, and what the group describes as anti-sovereignty conspiracies ahead of Bangladesh’s upcoming thirteenth national election.

According to the announcement, representatives from various political parties, revolutionary organizations, and social movements will participate in the gathering. Following the assembly, a protest march will proceed from the Central Shaheed Minar to Shaheed Osman Hadi Chattar, intended to express public anger and resistance against what organizers term Indian aggression and collaborator politics.

The event is presented as part of July Oikya’s broader campaign to uphold the spirit of the 2024 mass uprising and to assert Bangladesh’s sovereignty in the face of perceived external interference.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman has pledged to establish a university, cadet college, medical college, airport and IT hub in Thakurgaon. He made the announcement on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. during an election rally held at Thakurgaon Government Boys High School ground. Rahman said the initiatives aim to advance the country and transform Thakurgaon, Nilphamari, Dinajpur and Panchagarh into industrial regions. He urged voters to support the BNP symbol to implement these plans.

Rahman stated that the upcoming February 12 election would restore citizens’ voting rights, which he claimed had been taken away. He criticized the past 16 years of rule as self-serving and promised to form a government with public support to achieve food self-sufficiency. He also announced plans to reopen sugar, tea and ration industries in Panchagarh and emphasized developing agriculture-based industries to create employment.

He added that the BNP seeks to rebuild the nation with people’s cooperation, ensuring justice and unity among all religions, and reaffirmed that religion would not be used as a basis for judgment in the country.

Gono Odhikar Parishad has announced its support for the BNP candidate in the Jamalpur-4 (Sarishabari) constituency for the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The declaration was made on Friday night, February 6, at the local BNP office in Sarishabari, where a large number of Gono Odhikar Parishad leaders and activists gathered under the leadership of upazila convener Al-Amin Milu. The decision aims to ensure the victory of the BNP candidate, symbolized by the paddy sheaf.

During the announcement, several local leaders of Gono Odhikar Parishad, including joint convener Arif Talukdar and joint member secretaries Anwar Hossain, Jahangir Alam, and others, were present. Al-Amin Milu stated that although their party’s candidate Iqbal Hossain received the truck symbol, he is not active in the electoral field. For this reason, and in the interest of restoring democracy and voting rights, the party decided to support BNP’s candidate Faridul Kabir Talukdar Shamim.

The local leadership has instructed all members to work in favor of the BNP’s paddy sheaf symbol to strengthen broader political unity in the constituency.

The electoral atmosphere in Narail-2 constituency, covering Lohagara and parts of Narail Sadar, has become vibrant ahead of the upcoming national election. Campaigns, rallies, and door-to-door visits by candidates are taking place from morning until late night. Although eight candidates are contesting, the main competition appears to be among the BNP nominee, a BNP rebel, and the Jamaat-e-Islami candidate.

Historically dominated by the Awami League, the seat now presents a major opportunity for the BNP due to shifting political dynamics. However, internal division has weakened the party’s prospects. The BNP initially nominated district general secretary Monirul Islam but later replaced him with AZM Fariduzzaman, chairman of the NPP and a new BNP entrant. The decision triggered protests, leading Monirul to run independently and his subsequent expulsion from the party. Despite disciplinary actions, local observers say his popularity remains strong.

Meanwhile, Jamaat’s candidate Ataur Rahman has maintained a unified campaign for over a year, pledging to build a corruption-free society. Analysts believe Jamaat’s cohesion and a portion of Awami League’s “reserve votes” could influence the final outcome among the 390,987 registered voters.

Barrister Ragib Rouf Chowdhury, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) candidate for the Kushtia-2 (Veramara-Mirpur) constituency, announced a zero-tolerance policy against terrorism and extortion during campaign rallies in Veramara on Saturday. He vowed strict enforcement of the law to protect citizens’ lives, property, and dignity, urging voters to support the BNP’s ‘sheaf of paddy’ symbol in the upcoming election on February 12.

Chowdhury described the BNP’s election symbol as a representation of democracy and the people’s right to vote. He said Bangladesh is facing a deep crisis marked by drug abuse, terrorism, extortion, unemployment, and rising violence against women. He emphasized that honest leadership and the rule of law are essential to overcome these challenges and cited Tarique Rahman’s leadership as vital for national progress.

The event, chaired by Bulbul Ahmed Bulu and moderated by Shihabul Islam, was attended by several local BNP leaders, including Aslam Uddin, Janbar Hossain, and Advocate Bulbul Abu Sayeed Shamim.

A fierce contest has emerged in the Habiganj-1 (Nabiganj and Bahubal) constituency ahead of the upcoming parliamentary election, following the withdrawal of Jamaat-e-Islami’s candidate Shahjahan Ali on January 20 for alliance reasons. The race now centers on BNP’s official nominee Dr. Reza Kibria and the party’s expelled rebel candidate Sheikh Sujat Mia. Other contenders include Maulana Sirajul Islam of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, Badruddoza of Islami Front, and Kazi Tofayel Ahmed of JASAD, though they are considered less influential locally.

Dr. Kibria, son of former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria, is expected to benefit from his father’s strong local reputation. His wife, Simi Kibria, has been actively campaigning, drawing attention in the constituency. Meanwhile, Sheikh Sujat, a long-time BNP leader, has leveraged his local popularity and social media presence to appeal to voters despite being expelled from the party. Observers believe Jamaat’s withdrawal may have strengthened Sujat’s position by dividing Islamist support.

Local BNP activists are campaigning intensively for Dr. Kibria, while Sujat’s independent push continues to gain traction, setting the stage for a close electoral battle.

A large women's rally was held in Mirpur, Dhaka, on Saturday morning in support of Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Dhaka-15 constituency candidate Dr. Shafiqur Rahman. Organized by the party’s women’s wing, the procession began at Faltpotti Mor in Mirpur-10, passed through the 10 Number Circle, and concluded at Kazipara. A significant number of women participated, chanting slogans urging voters to support the 'Dhal' (balance scale) symbol.

Before the march, leaders of Jamaat’s women’s division said Dr. Shafiqur Rahman had pledged to build a humane Bangladesh through victory in the upcoming election and to ensure dignity for women. They expressed hope that electing him in Dhaka-15 would help establish a just and welfare-oriented society. The leaders also called for the success of Jamaat and the 11-party alliance candidates nationwide.

At the rally’s conclusion, Jamaat central executive council member Mobarak Hossain thanked all participants for their involvement.

Authorities have declared all 127 polling centers in Cumilla-11 (Chouddagram) constituency as vulnerable ahead of the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election scheduled for February 12. The seat, where Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Nayeb-e-Ameer Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher is contesting, has been identified as sensitive due to previous incidents of electoral violence. Installation of CCTV cameras at these centers is reportedly nearing completion.

Across Cumilla district’s 11 constituencies and 17 upazilas, 934 of 1,491 polling centers have been marked as vulnerable and 227 as highly vulnerable. The classification follows a review of past national and local election violence. Recent clashes between BNP and Jamaat activists in Chouddagram left over fifty people injured, prompting heightened security measures.

Assistant Returning Officer and Chouddagram Upazila Executive Officer Nurul Amin stated that comprehensive preparations are underway, with deployment of executive magistrates, army, BGB, police, Ansar battalions, RAB, and judicial magistrates to maintain order during the polls.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman announced plans to transform Thakurgaon, Nilphamari, Dinajpur, and Panchagarh into industrial regions if his party comes to power. Speaking at an election rally at Thakurgaon Government Boys High School field on Saturday at 11:30 a.m., he urged voters to support the BNP’s symbol, the paddy sheaf, to implement these development plans. Rahman also promised to reopen the Thakurgaon airport under a future BNP government.

He said that the February 12 election would restore the voting rights that had been taken away from the people. Criticizing the past 16 years of what he described as autocratic rule, Rahman stated that the regime had served only its own interests. He emphasized that the BNP seeks to form a government with public support and aims to make the country self-sufficient in food production.

The rally highlighted Rahman’s focus on regional industrialization, infrastructure revival, and democratic restoration as key elements of his party’s campaign message.

Leaders of the eleven-party alliance have become increasingly active in election campaigns ahead of Bangladesh’s upcoming 13th parliamentary election. Jamaat-e-Islami is participating through this alliance, fielding single candidates in most constituencies except a few open ones. Senior leaders from all allied parties are jointly attending rallies, public meetings, and door-to-door campaigns to support each other’s candidates. The alliance aims to secure victory for its nominees and form the next government.

According to Jamaat’s Assistant Secretary General Maulana Abdul Halim, the anti-fascist eleven-party unity represents the first step toward realizing the public aspirations of the July Revolution. He stated that all alliance candidates are considered joint nominees, with each party supporting others’ candidates across constituencies. Prominent figures such as Maulana Mamunul Haque of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, NCP leader Hasnat Abdullah, and LDP President Col (Retd) Oli Ahmed have joined rallies alongside Jamaat leaders. Even parties without allocated seats, such as JAGPA, are actively campaigning nationwide for the alliance.

The alliance’s coordinated campaign, involving both male and female supporters, is expanding across the country as election day approaches.

The women’s division of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami in Bagatipara, Natore, organized a large rally and street meeting on Saturday morning demanding justice and fairness. The event began at 10 a.m. from Bagatipara Pilot Field under the leadership of Ishrat Jahan Baby, secretary of the upazila women’s division. The procession marched through major roads of the upazila and concluded at Malanchi Railgate, where a street meeting was held.

The meeting was conducted by Shamsunnahar Ayesha, a member of the women’s division working committee, with Ishrat Jahan Baby as the chief speaker. Other speakers included Fatema Khanam, wife of Jamaat’s nominated candidate for Natore-1 constituency, and former vice-chairman of Bagatipara Upazila Parishad, Sabana Akter. Speakers emphasized that women are no longer behind in society and highlighted their essential role in establishing justice, good governance, and Islamic values.

They urged female activists to stand for truth and justice in the upcoming national election and to make the right choice through their votes. Around a thousand women participated peacefully, carrying banners and slogans to raise awareness about the importance of voting.

Independent candidate S M Mamunur Rashid Mamun has withdrawn from the electoral race in Nilphamari-4 (Kishoreganj-Saidpur) constituency to support the BNP nominee Abdul Gafur Sarkar. The announcement was made on Friday night at the Saidpur political district BNP office, where Mamun expressed solidarity with the BNP candidate. Party leaders and activists celebrated the decision by distributing sweets.

Mamun, who had initially sought BNP’s nomination but contested independently after not receiving it, said he decided to step aside for the party’s greater interest. He clarified that no one had pressured or enticed him to withdraw. Abdul Gafur Sarkar, the BNP’s district president and candidate, welcomed the decision, describing Mamun as a loyal BNP supporter who had corrected his earlier mistake.

The joining event was attended by several BNP leaders, including district general secretary Shahin Akhtar and former MP Shawkat Chowdhury. Nine candidates, including those from Jamaat-e-Islami and Jatiya Party, are contesting in the Nilphamari-4 seat.

Thousands of women took to the streets in Borhanuddin upazila of Bhola on Friday, seeking votes for Mufti Maulana Fazlul Karim, the Jamaat-e-Islami and United Bangladesh Alliance candidate for the Bhola-2 (Borhanuddin-Daulatkhan) parliamentary seat. The rally followed a women’s gathering organized by the upazila unit of Jamaat-e-Islami at the local government high school field.

Fazlul Karim, speaking as the chief guest, pledged strong action against any harassment or violence toward women and promised that women would enjoy maximum security, dignity, and freedom if Jamaat came to power. Central LDP leader Mokfar Uddin Chowdhury, as special guest, criticized political mismanagement and called for peaceful coexistence, saying threats could not suppress the public. Other speakers, including district and upazila Jamaat leaders, urged women to play a more active role in religious and social activities.

Borhanuddin upazila women’s leader Laizu Begum also addressed the event, emphasizing women’s rights, moral education, and their responsibilities in building society. Female activists and supporters from various areas of the municipality and upazila attended the gathering.

The White House is planning to hold the first meeting of the Gaza Peace Board on February 19, according to a report by U.S. media outlet Axios. The meeting aims to raise funds for Gaza’s reconstruction. The report noted that the plan remains in its early stages and could change. The White House and the U.S. State Department have not yet responded to questions regarding the meeting.

Earlier, the Trump administration announced the founding members of the Gaza Peace Board, including former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. A White House statement said that Donald Trump will serve as chairman, with his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner as founding executive members.

The board will temporarily oversee Gaza’s administration and manage its reconstruction efforts. Other executive members include private financier Mark Rowan, World Bank President Ajay Banga, and U.S. National Security Adviser Robert Gabriel. The White House stated that each member will play a key role in stabilizing Gaza and ensuring its long-term success.