At a meeting in Shanta Community Center, Ranisankail, Thakurgaon, on Monday, Mizanur Rahman Master, the Thakurgaon-3 candidate of the Eleven-Party Alliance, said journalists would be able to work freely if the alliance came to power. He stated that there would be no room for corruption within the alliance and that serving the people was their main duty. He also announced plans to build roads, schools, colleges, and a 250-bed hospital in the upazila.

The event was organized by the alliance’s Press Media Cell and chaired by Upazila Jamaat Secretary Rojob Ali. Other speakers included central NCP Joint Chief Coordinator agriculturist Golam Mortuza Selim, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Upazila President Amanullah Aman, District Press Media President Shahjalal Jewel, and Municipal Amir Abdul Matin. Local journalists and representatives from labor and youth organizations were also present.

Mizanur Rahman added that unemployed people would receive free jobs instead of unemployment allowances, foreign employment opportunities would be expanded, and local rivers would be dredged to restore their flow.

A total of 194,914 postal ballots from expatriate voters have arrived in Bangladesh ahead of the upcoming 13th National Parliament election and referendum. The information was confirmed on Monday by Salim Ahmad Khan, team leader of the OCV-SDI project on expatriate voter registration. As of 11 a.m. that day, 766,862 ballots had been sent to expatriates through the ‘Postal Vote BD’ mobile app, with 522,315 voters receiving their ballots and 464,225 completing their votes. Additionally, 418,962 expatriate voters have submitted their ballots to local post offices or mailboxes, and BD Post has forwarded 1,859 ballots to returning officers.

The Election Commission has also started sending postal ballots to domestic voters registered under the ICPV system. So far, 646,507 registered voters across the country have been sent ballots. By 11 a.m. Monday, 58,797 domestic voters had received their ballots, 43,319 had completed voting, and 29,334 had submitted their ballots to post offices or mailboxes.

According to Salim Ahmad Khan, a total of 1,533,684 voters, both at home and abroad, have registered through the ‘Postal Vote BD’ app to participate in the election and referendum.

In Shibchar upazila of Madaripur, BNP’s nominated candidate for Madaripur-1 constituency, Nadera Akter, led a group of party leaders and activists to visit the grave of late Awami League leader Ilias Ahmed Chowdhury, a cousin of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The visit has triggered sharp discontent and debate within the local BNP ranks.

Following the visit, many grassroots BNP activists publicly expressed dissatisfaction, arguing that Ilias Ahmed Chowdhury’s family benefited from the Awami League government, which they accuse of long-term political repression. They said visiting the grave of a family associated with such a regime contradicts BNP’s political principles and has hurt the sentiments of those who suffered under Awami League rule. The incident has also caused confusion and resentment among the public.

Local BNP leaders stated that those who fought against Awami League’s governance cannot accept such actions. Political analysts noted that this controversy could negatively affect BNP’s internal unity and public support ahead of the election. No official party statement or comment from Nadera Akter has yet been issued.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman is scheduled to visit Khulna and Jashore today, Monday, to attend election rallies. He will first address party workers and supporters at a rally at Khulna’s Probati School ground at 11 a.m., where he is expected to outline plans for the overall development and economic revival of the southern region. Later in the day, he will speak at another rally at Jashore’s Upashahar College ground.

At a press briefing in Khulna on Sunday, BNP Executive Committee member and Khulna-3 candidate Rakibul Islam Bakul said preparations for the Khulna rally, including stage setup, security, and crowd management, were nearly complete. He noted that enthusiasm among party members across the southwest region was high, and large crowds were expected from nearby districts. Several BNP leaders, including Azizul Bari Helal, Nazrul Islam Manju, and SM Monirul Hasan Bappi, were present at the briefing.

In Jashore, Acting Organizing Secretary and Jashore-3 candidate Anindya Islam Amit told reporters that Tarique Rahman would arrive by helicopter around 1:30 p.m. before addressing the rally. Senior BNP leaders, including Vice Chairperson Nargis Begum, were also present at the local press conference.

The High Court has granted anticipatory bail to BNP candidate Mahmudul Haque Rubel and 39 others accused in the murder case of Jamaat leader Rezaul Karim in Jhenaigati upazila of Sherpur. The order was issued on Monday, February 2, by a bench comprising Justice Kamrul Hossain Molla and Justice Faisal Hasan Arif.

The case stems from a violent clash on January 28 during an election manifesto announcement event organized by the Jhenaigati upazila administration. The altercation reportedly began over seating arrangements between activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and the BNP. Rezaul Karim, secretary of Jamaat’s Sreebardi upazila unit, was critically injured and later died on the way to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital.

Following the incident, Rezaul Karim’s wife, Marzia, filed a case with Jhenaigati Police Station naming 234 individuals and 400–500 unidentified persons. Mahmudul Haque, the BNP candidate for Sherpur-3 constituency, was listed as the prime accused. The accused sought bail from the High Court on February 1 before the court granted it the next day.

Islami Chhatra Shibir’s central publication secretary and Dhaka University Central Students’ Union vice president Sadiq Kayem said Jamaat-e-Islami would implement a zero-tolerance policy to eliminate extortion if it came to power. Speaking at an election campaign rally in Shyampur, Dhaka-4, on Sunday night, he stated that there was no place for corruption or extortionists in Bangladesh under Jamaat’s leadership.

Kayem urged voters to use their conscience and vote for the balance scale symbol, representing Jamaat-e-Islami, describing the party as one of justice. He highlighted the humanitarian activities of Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman during floods, earthquakes, and the COVID-19 pandemic, asserting that under his leadership Bangladesh would not lose its way.

At the same event, Syed Zainul Abedin, the 11-party alliance-backed candidate for Dhaka-4, identified gas shortages, poor transport, drainage, and waterlogging as key local issues. He blamed the lack of honest leadership for these problems and called on voters to support Jamaat on February 12 to transform the neglected constituency into a modern urban area.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman, speaking at an election rally in Khulna’s Probati School field on Monday, sharply criticized a political party for making anti-women statements before the upcoming general election on February 12. He said those who disrespect women, rely on falsehoods, and deprive citizens of voting rights cannot be patriotic or people-oriented. Rahman emphasized that with half of Bangladesh’s 200 million population being women, national progress is impossible without their inclusion.

He recalled former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s initiatives for women’s education and empowerment, and condemned a rival party leader’s derogatory remarks toward working women. Rahman accused that party of lying about its social media account being hacked after public backlash. He also pledged that if BNP forms the next government, every family will receive a “Family Card” to support women’s self-reliance, and the Khulna region will be revived as an industrial hub.

Rahman further promised IT parks for youth, agricultural cards for farmers, and loan waivers up to Tk 10,000, asserting that women’s empowerment, employment, education, and healthcare are essential for building the Bangladesh people expect.

A court on Monday sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to 10 years in prison in a corruption case involving the allocation of plots in the Purbachal housing project. The same verdict handed four years to her niece, British MP Tulip Siddiq, and seven years to her nephew, Radwan Mujib Siddiq Bobby. The case was filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and included a total of 18 defendants.

According to the charges, Sheikh Hasina and her family allegedly abused their power while she held the highest office in government. Despite being ineligible, they were accused of obtaining 10-katha plots each in Sector 27 of the Purbachal housing project. Other defendants include several officials from the Ministry of Housing and Public Works and Rajuk, as well as former state minister Sharif Ahmed.

The court’s decision marks a significant development in the ACC’s ongoing efforts to address alleged misuse of authority in government housing allocations.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman stated that he seeks victory not for his party but for all 180 million people of Bangladesh. Speaking as the chief guest at an election rally in Cox’s Bazar on Monday afternoon, he said that if everyone wins, he too will share in that success. Rahman added that if his party wins, residents of Kutubdia would have a minister, urging the audience to decide whether they want an MP or a minister.

In his speech, Rahman called on young people to prepare themselves, saying that the future of Bangladesh would be handed over to them. He warned that those who oppose the “yes” side aim to reestablish fascism. He also pledged that if Jamaat came to power, it would recover money looted and smuggled abroad by corrupt individuals.

The remarks were made during Jamaat’s election campaign in Cox’s Bazar, emphasizing national unity and youth participation in shaping the country’s political future.

A court on Monday sentenced British MP Tulip Siddiq to two years in prison and fined her 100,000 taka in a plot corruption case. The verdict was delivered in a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) over alleged irregularities in the allocation of plots in the Purbachal housing project. The case also involves former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her nephew Radwan Mujib Siddiq Bobby, and several government officials.

According to the case documents, Sheikh Hasina and her family allegedly abused their power while in office to obtain 10-katha plots each in Sector 27 of the Purbachal project despite being ineligible. A total of 18 individuals were charged, including senior officials from the Ministry of Housing and Public Works and the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK).

The ruling marks a significant development in the long-running corruption investigation involving high-profile political figures and senior bureaucrats. Further legal proceedings for the other accused are expected to continue following the court’s decision.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman called on young people to prepare to take charge of Bangladesh’s future. He made the remarks on Monday afternoon during an election rally in Cox’s Bazar, where he served as the chief guest. Addressing supporters, he said those who oppose the movement for change aim to reestablish fascism. He also pledged that if Jamaat came to power, the party would recover money allegedly looted and sent abroad.

Dr. Rahman emphasized that his goal was not only Jamaat’s victory but the victory of all 180 million people of Bangladesh. He stated that if everyone wins, he too would share in that success. He further promised that if Jamaat wins, residents of Kutubdia would have a minister representing them, urging the audience to decide whether they wanted an MP or a minister.

The rally highlighted Jamaat’s attempt to mobilize youth and present itself as a force for national change ahead of upcoming elections.

A writ petition has been filed in the High Court challenging the eligibility of Dr. M A Kayum, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) candidate for the Dhaka-11 constituency, on allegations of concealing foreign citizenship information. The petition was submitted on Monday by Nahid Islam, the Eleven-Party Alliance candidate and convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP), in the relevant branch of the High Court.

The writ seeks suspension of Dr. Kayum’s candidacy, alleging fraud related to his foreign citizenship status. Earlier, the Election Commission had declared valid the nomination papers of both Nahid Islam and Dr. M A Kayum, who also serves as the BNP’s microcredit affairs secretary. The petition directly challenges that decision, calling for judicial review of the commission’s approval.

The High Court’s decision on the writ could affect the electoral process in Dhaka-11, depending on whether the court upholds or suspends Dr. Kayum’s candidacy.

A major controversy has erupted across Bangladesh after an alleged post from Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman’s verified X (formerly Twitter) account made disparaging remarks about working women. The post quickly went viral, prompting widespread criticism on social media and strong condemnation from political rivals, including the BNP, whose student wing staged protest marches accusing Jamaat of misogyny.

Jamaat-e-Islami has denied responsibility, claiming the Ameer’s account was hacked as part of a political conspiracy to tarnish his image. The party said a government official’s email from Bangabhaban was used in the hack and that its IT team regained control of the account within hours. Jamaat filed a general diary with police, informed the Election Commission and Cyber Tribunal, and held a press conference detailing the incident. Dr. Rahman later apologized to anyone hurt by the false post but insisted it was the work of hackers.

BNP leaders questioned the credibility of the hacking claim, noting the delay in reporting and suggesting the explanation was unconvincing. The issue has fueled heated debate ahead of the national election.

The upcoming parliamentary election in Sunamganj-2 (Dirai-Shalla) has sparked intense campaigning between rival candidates. From early morning until late night, candidates and their supporters are holding rallies, market meetings, and door-to-door visits to seek votes. Family members of the contenders have also joined the campaign, meeting voters directly and sharing promises for local development. Digital banners and creative online outreach have replaced paper posters, especially targeting young voters.

BNP’s national executive committee member Nasir Uddin Chowdhury is contesting against Shishir Monir, the candidate of Jamaat-e-Islami and a ten-party alliance. Nasir, a veteran politician and former two-time upazila chairman, continues campaigning despite health issues, while Monir, a young lawyer, is gaining popularity through social media and grassroots engagement with farmers, laborers, expatriates, and the third-gender community.

Local residents express divided opinions: some praise Nasir’s long-standing leadership and liberation war background, while others believe Monir’s approach could bring long-awaited development to the neglected Dirai-Shalla region.

In Jamalpur’s hilly areas bordering India’s Meghalaya, the indigenous Garo community remains indifferent to Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary election. Despite nationwide political fervor, residents of seven Garo villages under Bakshiganj’s Dhanua Kamalpur Union say they see no reason to vote. They claim that election promises made by candidates are never fulfilled, leaving them without basic civic amenities even after 54 years of independence.

Local residents, including Khogis Sangma and Kapus Marak of the Tribal Welfare Association, expressed frustration over poor roads, inadequate sanitation, lack of employment, and limited access to education and healthcare. They said elected representatives rarely visit after winning, and development in the hills remains negligible. The community also faces crop and property damage from wild elephants descending into villages.

The Garos say they no longer want promises but tangible development. Their main demand after the 13th election is the implementation of long-delayed infrastructure and welfare measures in their remote settlements.