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.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman declared that Bangladesh will not be divided again on religious grounds, emphasizing merit-based opportunities for all. Speaking at an election rally in Habiganj on Saturday morning, he said the region’s tea gardens would be modernized and that people of all faiths—Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, and Christian—should live together peacefully and practice their religions freely.

Dr. Rahman stated that politics is a duty, not a profession, and condemned extortion and corruption, promising to end such practices permanently. He criticized past leadership for failing to improve citizens’ lives and pledged that if elected, his party would present annual income and expenditure reports to the public. He also demanded apologies from those who disrespected women.

The Jamaat leader further announced that if his party comes to power, its members of parliament would not accept tax-free cars or subsidized flats, opting instead to pay full prices. He attributed the country’s current problems of terrorism and corruption to previous rulers and called for an equitable society free from dishonest politics.

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi has sharply criticized Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for his alleged anti-Muslim remarks. Speaking at a public rally in Nizamabad on Friday, Owaisi accused Sarma of discriminating against 'Miya Muslims' and violating the Indian Constitution’s guarantee of equal rights for all citizens. Owaisi mocked Sarma’s earlier comments about giving lower fares to Muslim auto drivers, saying he would personally offer the chief minister two rupees, questioning whether he would accept it.

Earlier, Sarma had referred to undocumented immigrants as 'Miya Muslims' and suggested they should vote in Bangladesh rather than Assam. He also said efforts should be made to pressure them to leave the state, adding that his administration was openly opposed to them. The term 'Miya' is widely regarded as a derogatory label used in Assam for Bengali-speaking Muslims, implying they are of Bangladeshi origin.

The exchange highlights ongoing political and communal tensions in Assam over identity, migration, and citizenship issues.

In the upcoming parliamentary election for Dhaka-19 (Savar-Ashulia), BNP-nominated candidate Dr. Dewan Mohammad Salauddin Babu is conducting an energetic campaign and receiving strong voter response. Meanwhile, NCP candidate Dilshana Parul, backed by Jamaat-e-Islami and an 11-party alliance, is depending on Jamaat’s vote bank but has yet to mobilize a large portion of its activists on the ground. Field reports indicate that among eight contestants, the BNP candidate and former MP Babu currently enjoys a lead in public support.

Dr. Babu has pledged a 100-day priority plan focusing on eliminating drugs, extortion, and illegal occupation of footpaths, along with traffic control measures. He is contesting for the fifth time under BNP’s “sheaf of paddy” symbol. Dilshana Parul, a former Jahangirnagar University student leader, entered the race after Jamaat withdrew its own candidate but faces hesitation among long-time Jamaat workers due to the new election symbol.

Election officials said 38 of the 275 polling centers have been marked as risky, with additional security and CCTV already deployed. The constituency has 747,070 registered voters.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman declared that politics is not a profession but a duty, pledging to end extortion and corruption in Bangladesh. Speaking at an election rally in Habiganj on Saturday at 11 a.m., he criticized dishonest leadership for failing to improve people's lives and promised annual public disclosure of income and expenditure if elected. He demanded that those who insulted women apologize to the nation’s 180 million citizens.

Rahman blamed former ruling powers for spreading terrorism and corruption, saying that dishonest politics has perpetuated inequality despite sacrifices for a just society. He pledged to modernize Habiganj’s tea gardens and to prevent religious divisions, emphasizing merit-based opportunities for all citizens.

He further stated that if his party comes to power, its members of parliament would not accept tax-free cars or subsidized flats, opting instead to pay full price or use simpler means of transport if necessary.

BNP central vice chairman and Noakhali-4 candidate Md. Shahjahan announced that if the party wins the 13th national parliamentary election and forms the government, Noakhali Sadar and Subarnachar will be made free from drugs, terrorism, and extortion. He made the remarks on Friday evening at an election rally held at Adarsha High School field in Kadir Hanif Union under Noakhali Sadar upazila. Shahjahan urged voters in Noakhali-4 and across the country to support the BNP’s paddy sheaf symbol in the February 12 election.

The rally was presided over by Abdul Motaleb Apple and conducted by Mostafizur Rahman Palash, with the presence of BNP leaders including Barrister A.S.M. Sayem, Mahbub Alamgir Alo, and Md. Harunur Rashid Azad. Shahjahan, a former three-term MP, promised to prioritize infrastructure development, modern drainage systems, educational improvements, and upgraded healthcare facilities if elected.

He emphasized BNP’s commitment to civility, tolerance, and non-retaliatory politics, describing the party as popular among people of all professions and calling for prayers for the Zia family and himself.

Bangladeshi writer Maskawath Ahsan, in a column published on February 7, 2026, argues that Indian media’s repeated questioning of Bangladesh’s secularism is hypocritical given India’s own religious politics. He cites examples of Indian outlets such as The Week and Al Jazeera journalists asking whether Bangladesh might become a religious state if certain political alliances come to power. The article also mentions Indian politician Harsh Vardhan Shringla’s claim that an NCP–Jamaat victory would indicate an unfair election.

Ahsan contrasts these concerns with India’s internal developments under the Hindu nationalist BJP government, including the revocation of Kashmir’s autonomy, anti-Muslim violence, and the construction of the Ram temple on the Babri Mosque site. He accuses Indian media and film industries of promoting Islamophobia through propaganda and selective narratives.

The author concludes that Bangladesh should focus on building an inclusive, humane state rooted in harmony among all religious and ethnic groups, while maintaining cultural sovereignty and resisting sectarian influence from India’s Hindutva politics.

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order warning of additional tariffs on countries that continue trading with Iran. The order, signed on Friday during U.S.-Iran discussions in Oman, does not specify the exact tariff rate but cites 25 percent as an example. According to the order, the tariffs would apply to goods imported into the United States from any country that directly or indirectly purchases, imports, or receives services from Iran.

Trump did not make direct comments about the order itself, but while speaking aboard Air Force One on Friday night, he reiterated that Iran must not possess nuclear weapons. Earlier this year, Trump had issued a similar warning on Truth Social, threatening a 25 percent tariff on nations doing business with Iran.

The executive order underscores Washington’s continued pressure on Tehran and its trading partners, signaling potential economic consequences for countries maintaining commercial ties with Iran.

All shops, commercial establishments, and shopping malls across Bangladesh, including Dhaka, will remain closed on February 11 and 12, which fall on Wednesday and Thursday. The Bangladesh Business Association announced the decision on Saturday morning, citing the upcoming national parliamentary election and referendum as the reason for the closure.

In addition to retail and commercial outlets, all scheduled banks operating in the country will also remain closed on the same dates. The directive for bank closures has been issued under the authority granted by Section 45 of the Bank Company Act, 1991. The measure is intended to facilitate the smooth conduct of the election and referendum across the country.

These coordinated closures are expected to ensure that business and financial activities do not interfere with the national voting process and that citizens can participate in the election and referendum without disruption.

Political analyst Abdul Latif Masum argues that Bangladesh may need a national unity government following the 2026 election. He notes that both BNP leader Tarique Rahman and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman have publicly expressed support for forming a national government after the polls, regardless of which party wins. The proposal, he writes, aims to ensure political stability, economic recovery, and national security in a period of uncertainty and division.

The article recalls historical coalition experiences in Bangladesh, including the BNP–Jamaat partnership of the 1990s and early 2000s, and compares them with global examples such as wartime Britain, post-apartheid South Africa, and transitional Nepal. Masum argues that such governments succeed when parties prioritize national interest over ideology and operate within a defined timeframe.

He concludes that current political and economic conditions show signs that a national government could become essential. According to him, a unity administration involving all major parties could strengthen national security and foster consensus in a politically fragmented Bangladesh.

An election rally organized by the Habiganj district unit of Jamaat-e-Islami began on Saturday morning at the Newfield ground in Habiganj. The event started at 8:30 a.m., with local leaders delivering speeches under the chairmanship of district Jamaat chief Maulana Mukhlisur Rahman. Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman is scheduled to attend as the chief guest and deliver his address around 10 a.m.

The rally marks the formal start of Jamaat-e-Islami’s election campaign activities in the district. The gathering is being held as part of the party’s broader political mobilization ahead of upcoming polls. The report notes that the event is locally organized and attended by party leaders and supporters.

Further details about the rally’s agenda, attendance, or specific campaign messages were not provided in the source text.

The electoral contest in Comilla-7 (Chandina) constituency has become increasingly complex as internal divisions within the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) threaten its traditional dominance. Dr. Redwan Ahmed, formerly the secretary general of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), joined the BNP and secured its nomination under the paddy sheaf symbol. However, his campaign faces serious challenges following the entry of expelled BNP leader Atikul Alam Shawon as an independent candidate, raising fears of a split in the BNP vote.

Local analysts note that grassroots dissatisfaction has strengthened Shawon’s position, particularly after the dissolution of the Chandina Upazila BNP committee for not supporting Redwan. Many BNP activists allege that Redwan has close ties with a section of the local Awami League and had been disconnected from party activities for 17 years, while Shawon remained active during periods of political repression. The constituency now sees a three-way race among Redwan, Shawon, and Solaiman Khan of the 11-party alliance, which includes Jamaat-e-Islami.

Observers suggest that the internal rift and multiple strong contenders have placed the BNP candidate under significant pressure ahead of the election.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman is visiting three northern districts of Bangladesh today as part of the campaign for the 13th National Parliamentary Election. He is scheduled to attend an election rally at 11:30 a.m. at Thakurgaon Government Boys High School field. Following this, he will address a campaign gathering at 1:00 p.m. at Nilphamari Municipality’s large field and later join another rally at Birampur Government College field in Dinajpur.

The entire city of Thakurgaon has been prepared for his arrival, with heightened enthusiasm among party leaders and activists. Security measures have been tightened around the rally venues to ensure a smooth visit. The events mark a significant phase in the BNP’s election campaign in northern Bangladesh.

The rallies are expected to energize local supporters and strengthen the party’s organizational presence ahead of the upcoming national election.

A long-anticipated meeting between the United States and Iran took place in Oman, where U.S. President Donald Trump described the discussions as 'very good.' Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on his way to Mar-a-Lago in Florida, Trump said Iran was eager to reach a deal and confirmed that another round of talks would be held next week.

The meeting in Muscat was led by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, while the U.S. delegation included Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, and U.S. Central Command chief Brad Cooper. The talks occurred amid a significant U.S. military buildup in the Middle East, with the stated goal of preventing further escalation of tensions.

During the discussions, Trump issued an executive order imposing punitive measures against Tehran. The order stipulates that countries purchasing goods from Iran will face secondary tariffs on their own exports to the United States.