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.

More than one hundred leaders and activists of the Gano Adhikar Parishad from various units in Jamalpur district resigned on Saturday night, alleging that the party had deviated from its discipline, principles, and ideals. The announcement was made at a press conference held at a club near Madarganj Model Police Station. The resignations were led by several district and upazila-level leaders, including Robiul Mondol, Zakirul Islam Zakir, Shahin Alam, and Rezaul Karim Hira, and also included members of the expatriate wing.

The resigning leaders stated that they had long observed a lack of discipline and ideological politics within the party. They expressed dissatisfaction over sudden changes in candidate announcements, such as the reversal of the nomination for Jamalpur-3 constituency within fifteen minutes. They also said that about 150 leaders had raised objections to central leaders, which were ignored, leading to frustration and disillusionment.

Jamalpur district general secretary Zakir Hossain responded that those who resigned were not truly committed to the party and that their departure would not affect its activities. He added that the organization would continue its work and strengthen its grassroots presence.

BNP rebel candidate Mohsin Mia Madhu declared that he has no party owner and that his only allegiance is to the people. He made the statement on Saturday night while campaigning across various areas of Sreemangal upazila in the Moulvibazar-4 (Sreemangal–Kamalganj) constituency. During his campaign, he held street meetings, yard gatherings, and distributed leaflets door to door, seeking direct voter support.

Madhu expressed his commitment to developing Sreemangal and Kamalganj as model areas, promising that if elected, citizens would not need to approach him for development initiatives as he would take proactive steps himself. Drawing on his experience as a former municipal mayor, he claimed to have previously transformed Sreemangal Municipality into a model one. He pledged to make the region free from terrorism, corruption, and extortion.

He appealed to voters of all political affiliations to support him under his election symbol, the football. Other candidates in the constituency include BNP’s Mujibur Rahman Chowdhury, NCP’s Pritam Das, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish’s Maulana Nure Alam Hamidi, Jatiya Party’s Zarif Hossain, and BASAD’s Advocate Md. Abul Hasan.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has alleged that its Amir, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, and several senior leaders were targeted in a cyberattack on their social media accounts. The party’s Assistant Secretary General and head of its publicity and media division, Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, stated in a press release on Sunday that attackers briefly took control of Dr. Rahman’s official Twitter (X) account and used it to post false and misleading content. The party’s cyber team reportedly regained control shortly afterward and secured other accounts.

The statement clarified that the unauthorized post did not represent the Jamaat Amir’s views or the party’s position, describing it as entirely false. The party condemned the spread of misinformation and urged the public, journalists, and social media users to verify information only from official and trusted sources. It also warned that spreading fake news, identity fraud, and manipulated content are punishable offenses that harm democratic integrity.

Jamaat’s campaign team reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, digital security, and credible communication, promising to share further updates if necessary and calling for restraint from unethical online activities.

Supporters of the BNP and Jamaat clashed on Saturday night in Nilphamari’s Jaldhaka municipality over the placement of election billboards. The incident occurred around 9 p.m. at Abu Sayeed Square, where both groups attempted to display their campaign materials. Police and army personnel were deployed to control the situation, and additional forces have since been stationed in the area amid a tense atmosphere.

Eyewitnesses said several billboards bearing Jamaat’s scale symbol had been installed earlier, and BNP supporters later tried to put up their own posters at the same location. Jamaat activists objected, leading to heated exchanges and eventually a chase between the two sides. BNP coordinator Fahmid Faisal Chowdhury Comet claimed their worker was obstructed and mistreated, while Jamaat coordinator Kamruzzaman alleged that BNP activists attacked their members, injuring three.

Jaldhaka police officer-in-charge Namjul Alam confirmed that the situation was brought under control after security forces intervened. Law enforcement remains deployed to prevent further unrest in the town.

Election campaigning in Naogaon-1 constituency has intensified ahead of the 13th parliamentary election, with candidates actively engaging voters across Porsha, Sapahar, and Niamatpur. Despite the presence of a rebel BNP candidate, local observers expect the main contest to be between the BNP’s ‘paddy sheaf’ symbol and Jamaat-e-Islami’s ‘scale’ symbol. The constituency, known as a BNP stronghold, has seen vibrant rallies and voter outreach in villages and markets.

BNP’s official candidate, Niamatpur BNP general secretary Md. Mostafizur Rahman, is contesting under the party symbol, while former MP and Niamatpur BNP president Dr. Salek Chowdhury is running as a rebel. Although Chowdhury has a strong local base, many of his supporters have joined Mostafizur’s campaign. Jamaat candidate Principal Mahbubul Alam is also campaigning actively, while three other candidates represent Islami Andolan and Jatiya Party.

The constituency has 407,465 registered voters, including 238,684 women, 235,377 men, and four third-gender voters, according to the report.

India’s Home Minister Amit Shah announced that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would complete border fencing within 45 days if it forms the government in West Bengal after the 2026 state assembly election. Speaking at a workers’ conference in Bagdogra, Siliguri, on Saturday, Shah predicted a BJP victory and called 2026 a “year of change.” He pledged to build a “Sonar Bangla” under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.

Shah accused the current Trinamool Congress government, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, of obstructing land allocation for border fencing despite a High Court directive. He said that after the election results in April, the BJP’s nominated chief minister would take charge and expedite pending projects. Shah also claimed that a BJP government would stop illegal infiltration and identify and expel infiltrators.

He further criticized Trinamool officials for not cooperating with the Election Commission’s voter list revision and promised BJP’s full support for a clean voter roll. Shah also pledged land rights for tea workers in North Bengal, similar to measures taken in Assam.

In the upcoming parliamentary election for Kushtia-1 (Daulatpur), the presence of a rebel candidate has raised optimism among Jamaat-e-Islami supporters, who believe it could disrupt the BNP’s vote calculations. The BNP’s official candidate is upazila committee president and former MP Reza Ahmed (Bachchu Molla), while the rebel contender is expelled joint convener Nuruzzaman (Hablu Molla). Despite several other parties fielding candidates, observers expect the main contest to be between BNP and Jamaat.

Reports indicate that since August 2024, residents of several riverine unions have faced harassment allegedly from supporters of the BNP candidate. Allegations of extortion and misconduct have also surfaced against his relatives. In contrast, the rebel candidate faces accusations of controlling the tobacco and counterfeit cigarette trade but not of public harassment. Local BNP insiders admit that some grassroots supporters may vote for the rebel due to internal grievances.

The constituency, comprising 14 unions and over 445,000 voters, includes a large number of young voters seen as favoring change, which could influence the final outcome.

Engineer and political researcher Jalal Uddin Omar, writing in *Amar Desh* on February 1, 2026, argued that India must reassess its approach toward Bangladesh following the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government. He recalled that Hasina resigned on August 5, 2024, amid mass protests and fled to India, ending the Awami League’s 15-and-a-half-year rule. An interim administration led by Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus was formed on August 8, 2024, to oversee reforms and prepare for a neutral election.

Omar contended that India’s close alignment with the Awami League had alienated the Bangladeshi public. He claimed that during Hasina’s tenure, Bangladesh prioritized Indian interests in bilateral agreements while India failed to reciprocate on key issues such as the Teesta water-sharing deal and border killings. He also criticized India’s alleged bias toward certain religious groups and its media’s portrayal of Bangladesh’s minority situation.

The author concluded that future India–Bangladesh relations must rest on equality, fairness, and mutual respect, emphasizing that sustainable friendship requires engagement with Bangladesh’s people rather than any single party or community.

Internal divisions and rebel candidates have complicated the electoral landscape for the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in three of Narayanganj’s five constituencies ahead of the 13th parliamentary election. In Narayanganj-2, BNP’s official candidate Nazrul Islam Azad faces a strong challenge from expelled former MP Ataur Rahman Khan Angur, who is contesting as an independent, while Jamaat-e-Islami’s Elias Molla also remains active. Voters expect the main contest to be between Azad and Angur, with concerns about possible clashes between their supporters.

In Narayanganj-3, BNP nominee Azharul Islam Mannan is competing mainly against expelled leader and former MP Muhammad Giasuddin, who retains a loyal base. Another expelled leader, Rezaul Karim, is running independently but is seen as weaker. Jamaat’s withdrawal from this seat has left voters to choose primarily between Mannan and Giasuddin. In Narayanganj-4, BNP ally Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam’s Mufti Monir Hossain Kasemi faces tough competition from former MP Mohammad Ali of the Republican Party and expelled BNP leader Shah Alam, making the race highly unpredictable.

Voters and observers describe all three constituencies as highly competitive, with outcomes likely to be decided by narrow margins.