Abdul Monayem Munna, president of the Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal, alleged that a deliberate campaign of misinformation and propaganda is being carried out to tarnish the organization’s image ahead of the upcoming national election. Speaking at a press conference on Sunday at the BNP’s election management office in Gulshan, Dhaka, he said that certain groups are using social media and online portals to spread false and misleading information against Jubo Dal.

Munna presented several recent incidents which he claimed were examples of politically motivated disinformation. These included cases in Katuakhali, Kushtia, Rajbari, Bhola, and Narayanganj, where he said ordinary or unrelated events were falsely linked to Jubo Dal. He asserted that such actions were intended to undermine the growing popularity of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its youth wing.

He declared that Jubo Dal would not bow to falsehoods or propaganda and would continue its democratic struggle through political, media, and legal means. Munna urged citizens and journalists to verify facts and remain vigilant against misinformation to protect democratic and peaceful electoral processes.

At a roadside rally in Shahjadpur, Sirajganj, the Nationalist Citizens Party (NCP) spokesperson Asif Mahmud alleged that a rival political party, while speaking of nationalism, has nominated foreign citizens as candidates in the upcoming elections. He compared such candidates to migratory birds who come to Bangladesh during elections and leave afterward. The event, held on Sunday, was attended by several NCP leaders, including election committee chairman Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, who urged voters to support the party’s Shapla Koli symbol for a corruption-free and well-governed Bangladesh.

Speakers at the rally, including NCP joint member-secretary S.M. Saif Mostafiz, Monira Sharmin, and Mahin Sarkar, criticized attempts to send foreign citizens and loan defaulters to parliament. They argued that such individuals would not legislate in the national interest but rather in favor of vested groups. The NCP leaders called on citizens to vote for candidates who would remain with the people and uphold justice, transparency, and good governance.

The rally also emphasized the party’s commitment to eradicating corruption, ensuring fair politics, and strengthening national sovereignty through responsible leadership.

Field-level voters in Faridpur-4 constituency, covering Sadarpur, Charbhadrasan, and Bhanga, believe a three-way contest is likely in the upcoming national election. The seat, historically dominated by the Awami League since independence, has occasionally been won by the Jatiya Party and BNP. Former independent MP Mujibur Rahman Nixon, a relative of Sheikh Hasina, held the seat for three consecutive terms. Following the political shift on August 5, 2024, many Awami League leaders reportedly left the area amid fear of legal action, creating a vacuum now being filled by opposition forces.

Supporters of former MP Nixon have largely joined the BNP’s campaign, backing its candidate, Krishak Dal’s central general secretary Shahidul Islam Khan Babul. BNP activists claim unity under his leadership, with no internal disputes. Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami, which previously performed poorly in the area, reports increased youth support and hopes to capitalize on public discontent over corruption and irregularities. Voters identify Babul, Jamaat’s Mohammad Sarwar Hossain, and independent candidate architect Mujahid Beg as the main contenders.

Local observers expect the main electoral battle to center on these three candidates, reflecting shifting alliances and voter sentiment in the region.

BNP Election Steering Committee spokesperson and party chairperson’s adviser Mahdi Amin has condemned an alleged misogynistic post from the verified X (Twitter) account of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman. Speaking at a press conference in Gulshan, Dhaka, on Sunday, Amin said that if the post is genuine, it represents a dangerous attempt to push society into medieval darkness. He noted that the post, made on January 31, suggested women face exploitation and moral decline when leaving home in the name of modernity.

Amin questioned the credibility of Jamaat’s claim that the account was hacked about nine hours after the post drew widespread criticism. He pointed out inconsistencies in the timeline of the hacking report and the general diary filed at Hatirjheel police station. Amin further accused Jamaat of a history of misogynistic behavior, citing previous remarks by its leaders and the party’s exclusion of women from leadership roles.

He reaffirmed BNP’s commitment to women’s freedom, dignity, and equality, describing Jamaat’s stance toward working women as deeply insulting and contrary to the values of a civilized society.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said the nation stands at a critical juncture and described February 12 as a day of change. He made the remarks on Sunday afternoon during an election rally in Sherpur. Rahman warned that any attack on mothers would trigger an explosion in the country and pledged to ensure lawful employment for youth instead of distributing unemployment allowances.

He also addressed a recent incident involving his social media account, which he said had been briefly taken over by miscreants who posted offensive comments about women. Rahman stated that control had been regained and apologized to any women who felt hurt by the incident. Additionally, he condemned the killing of Jamaat leader Professor Maulana Rezaul Karim in Shrimati upazila and the attack on an election meeting, criticizing the authorities for failing to arrest the main suspects after three days.

Rahman said he had directly urged the home adviser to show visible progress in the investigation and warned against testing their patience.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has announced that it will submit a memorandum to the Chief Election Commissioner on Sunday at 3 p.m., protesting continued violence and attacks against women participating in election campaigns. The party’s central women’s division will deliver the memorandum, according to a press release issued by the organization.

The statement said that women campaigning in support of the 11-party electoral alliance, including Jamaat-e-Islami, have been subjected to brutal assaults in various parts of the country. The organization alleged that such attacks are depriving women of their democratic rights.

In the memorandum, Jamaat-e-Islami will call for proper investigations into the incidents, legal action against those responsible, and effective preventive measures by the Election Commission to ensure a safe environment for election campaigning.

In the upcoming 13th parliamentary election, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) electoral symbol ‘Sheaf of Paddy’ will not appear on ballots in eight constituencies out of 300. The party has allocated 11 seats to its alliance partners, with seven of them contesting under their own party symbols. Additionally, four candidates who recently joined BNP from other parties will compete under the ‘Sheaf of Paddy’ symbol. The court has also cancelled the nomination of BNP candidate Manjurul Ahsan Munshi in Cumilla-4 due to loan default, leaving that seat without a BNP candidate.

A hearing is scheduled today on an appeal regarding the candidacy of BNP’s Sarwar Alamgir in Chattogram-2. If his nomination is cancelled, the number of constituencies without the BNP symbol could rise to nine. BNP sources said the party reached an electoral understanding with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, leaving four seats for its candidates, while other alliance partners such as Ganosamhati Andolon, Revolutionary Workers Party, and Gana Odhikar Parishad are contesting under their own symbols.

Several leaders from other parties, including Dr. Redwan Ahmed, Fariduzzaman Farhad, Bobby Hajjaj, and Muhammad Rashed Khan, have joined BNP to contest under the ‘Sheaf of Paddy’ symbol.

An election rally for the BNP’s ‘Sheaf of Paddy’ candidate was held on Saturday afternoon at the Paichbag Islamia High School field in Gafargaon, Mymensingh-10 constituency. Mohammad Aktaruzzaman Bacchu, the BNP candidate, attended the event as the chief guest. The rally was presided over by Ashraf Uddin Wakil Dhali, former convener of Paichbag Union BNP, and was also addressed by former district BNP general secretary Abul Kashem Arju and district BNP member Advocate Al Fatah Khan, among others.

In his speech, Mohammad Aktaruzzaman Bacchu said that Paichbag Union is one of the strongholds of the BNP in the area. He pledged that if elected, the upazila would be free from syndicates, corruption, nepotism, terrorism, extortion, and drugs. He expressed his desire to serve the people as their representative and remain a servant of the public.

The rally reflected the BNP’s local campaign efforts in the Mymensingh-10 constituency ahead of the upcoming election.

U.S. President Donald Trump has directed the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) not to intervene in protests taking place in Democrat-controlled cities unless those cities formally request federal assistance. The order followed nationwide demonstrations that erupted after two Americans were killed in Minneapolis during an incident involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. Trump issued the directive on Saturday and announced it through a post on his social media platform, Truth Social.

According to the statement, Trump instructed DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to ensure that federal agencies refrain from intervening in local protests unless asked for help. However, he clarified that ICE and Border Patrol officers would continue protecting federal buildings. Trump also warned that any attacks on federal officers, vehicles, or property would face serious consequences, emphasizing that federal courts and facilities must not be harmed.

The directive highlights Trump’s stance on limiting federal involvement in local unrest while maintaining strict protection of federal assets and personnel.

A large procession and rally were held in Gafargaon, Mymensingh, on Saturday in support of Maulana Ismail Hossain Sohel, the 11-party alliance–endorsed candidate for Mymensingh-10 (Gafargaon). The event began at the Imam Bari Eidgah field in the municipal area and moved through several town streets before concluding at Jamtala intersection, where a brief rally took place. Sohel, who is also the upazila amir of Jamaat-e-Islami, led the march.

The gathering was attended by local and regional leaders from Jamaat-e-Islami, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, and other allied organizations, including religious scholars, human rights activists, and professionals. In his address, Sohel emphasized that there is no alternative to honest, competent, and patriotic leadership for the welfare of the nation and urged citizens to unite in building a just society.

The event reflected the 11-party alliance’s campaign momentum in the Gafargaon constituency ahead of upcoming political activities, highlighting calls for ethical leadership and social unity.

In early January, the United States conducted a special operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, who is now facing trial in a US court. During a Senate hearing on Wednesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the operation, describing it as lawful and strategically necessary. Rubio argued that the mission did not constitute an act of war under the US Constitution and that Maduro’s continued rule posed a major strategic risk to the United States.

Several senators, including Republican Rand Paul, opposed the operation. Paul questioned what the US response would be if a similar action were taken against an American president, such as Donald Trump, and whether such an act would be considered a declaration of war. He asserted that if a foreign power abducted a US president, he would support war despite being anti-war.

The exchange between Rubio and Paul highlighted growing divisions within Congress over the use of military force and regime-change strategies abroad, reflecting deepening debate on the limits of executive power in foreign interventions.

Iraq’s Shia political alliance, the Coordination Framework, reaffirmed on Saturday its support for former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to lead the next government. The announcement came as US President Donald Trump warned that Washington would cease cooperation with Iraq if al-Maliki returned to power. The coalition, which holds a parliamentary majority, nominated al-Maliki following the recent elections.

In a statement, the Coordination Framework emphasized that the selection of Iraq’s prime minister is a constitutional matter that should proceed without foreign interference. It added that the alliance seeks balanced relations with international partners based on mutual respect. Al-Maliki previously served as Iraq’s first elected prime minister after the 2003 US-led invasion that ousted Saddam Hussein.

Trump’s warning was described as one of the strongest examples of US efforts to curb the influence of Iran-backed groups in Iraq. The country continues to navigate a delicate balance between its two key allies, Washington and Tehran.

Hasnat Abdullah, the chief organizer of the National Citizens Party, stated that there will be no leniency for corrupt individuals, extortionists, and bank looters. He made the remarks on Sunday, February 1, after the Supreme Court’s Appellate Division dismissed a petition filed by BNP-nominated candidate Manjurul Ahsan Munshi. Abdullah described the verdict as a judgment of the oppressed against the oppressor.

In a Facebook post the same day, Abdullah wrote that the people of Bangladesh had achieved victory in their fight against bank looters and loan defaulters. His comments came in response to the court’s decision, which he framed as a triumph for ordinary citizens over financial wrongdoing.

The statements reflect the National Citizens Party’s stance against corruption and financial crimes, emphasizing accountability and justice following the court’s ruling.

The Appeal Division has cancelled the nomination of BNP-endorsed candidate Engineer Manjurul Ahsan Munshi for the Comilla-4 (Debidwar) constituency in the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The court’s ruling on Sunday means Munshi will not be able to contest in this election, leaving the BNP without a candidate in the seat. As a result, Hasnat Abdullah, nominated by the 11-party alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami and serving as the chief organizer of NCP’s southern region, now faces a significantly weakened field.

Earlier, on January 21, the High Court had dismissed Munshi’s writ petition challenging the cancellation of his nomination. The Appeal Division has now rejected his leave-to-appeal petition, finalizing his disqualification. With no BNP or independent contenders remaining, Abdullah’s main competition now comes from candidates of smaller parties including Gano Adhikar Parishad, Insoniyat Biplob Bangladesh, Khelafat Majlis, and Islami Andolan Bangladesh.

The withdrawal of Jamaat’s previous nominee Saiful Islam Shahid and the absence of any BNP replacement have further cleared the way for Hasnat Abdullah’s likely victory in the constituency.

The U.S. Department of Justice has released a new batch of documents related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The newly disclosed materials reportedly include a reference to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, prompting political and diplomatic debate in India. The Indian government has strongly denied the claim, calling it baseless and defamatory. According to NDTV, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that the so-called 'Epstein files' mention an email referring to Modi and his 2017 visit to Israel, but all other assertions are completely rejectable.

The release comes as part of the ongoing U.S. investigation into Epstein’s crimes and connections with influential figures. The documents were made public under the 'Epstein Files Transparency Act,' which mandates disclosure of government-held information about Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the latest batch includes over three million documents, more than two thousand videos, and 180,000 photos.

Congress leader Pawan Khera has demanded Modi’s explanation, claiming the files contain statements suggesting Modi’s consultation and participation in a cultural event in Israel. He warned that such issues could affect India’s national reputation.