Lieutenant General (Retd.) Dr. Chowdhury Hasan Sarwardy, chairman of the Bangladesh Union Member Organization (BISSS), warned that thousands, including July fighters, would face execution if the 'Yes' side fails in the upcoming national referendum. He made the remarks on Saturday morning while presiding over a seminar titled 'Vote Yes in the Referendum' at the National Press Club’s Zahur Hossain Chowdhury Hall in Dhaka.

Sarwardy described the referendum as a struggle for existence and citizens’ rights, asserting that the nation’s future depends on the ballot outcome. He urged local representatives to act responsibly to ensure a 'Yes' victory, warning that a 'No' win could lead to a return of fascism and mass executions. He also called on citizens to protect Bangladesh’s sovereignty and independence from foreign domination.

The seminar was attended by Jamaat-e-Islami Dhaka South’s Nayeb-e-Ameer Dr. Md. Helal Uddin, former diplomat Sakib Ali, and former state minister for education Golam Sarwar Milon, who serves as BISSS’s chief coordinator and spokesperson.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman announced that women’s economic empowerment would be ensured if his party forms the next government. He made the statement on Saturday, January 31, at an election rally held at the BSCIC Industrial Park in Sirajganj. Rahman also said that initiatives would be taken to promote the export of Sirajganj’s traditional handloom products if BNP comes to power.

During his speech, Rahman referred to those who protested against the loss of political and voting rights, mentioning that many, including a woman named Mary, faced persecution for their activism. He urged supporters to respond through the ballot on the 12th by voting for the BNP’s symbol, the paddy sheaf, to reclaim their rights. He emphasized that BNP believes in peace and unity among all citizens regardless of religion or ethnicity.

Rahman concluded by stating that the fall of autocracy has already occurred and called on everyone to work together to rebuild the country.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Nayeb-e-Ameer Dr. Abdullah Mohammad Taher urged voters to choose candidates who would benefit the entire country. Speaking as chair at a 11-party election rally held at the Pilot High School field in Chauddagram, Cumilla, on Saturday noon, he asked supporters to vote for him under the party’s scale symbol if they believed he would stand by them. Taher said he had worked to end political violence and bloodshed in Chauddagram during his tenure and focused on the area’s development.

He recalled that after a mass uprising, his first call was to Chauddagram, instructing that there be no vandalism, bloodshed, or arson, and that no one should act out of revenge. Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, speaking as chief guest, stated that if Jamaat came to power, Taher would serve as a senior member of the cabinet. Other speakers included NCP convener Nahid Islam, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish Ameer Maulana Mamunul Haque, and several leaders of Islami Chhatra Shibir.

The rally reflected Jamaat’s effort to project unity among allied Islamist parties ahead of upcoming elections.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman said that the fall of autocracy has been achieved through movement and now the nation must unite to rebuild the country. He made the remarks on Saturday at 4 p.m. during an election rally at the BSCIC Industrial Park in Sirajganj.

Rahman emphasized the need for collective effort to support farmers and youth, noting that farmers endure great hardship and deserve assistance. He called on everyone to stand beside them and the younger generation to ensure national progress.

Thousands of BNP leaders and activists from different upazilas of Sirajganj and Pabna gathered at the rally venue from the morning to see Tarique Rahman. By noon, the area and surrounding roads were filled with participants. Rahman traveled from Bogura to Sirajganj by road to attend the event.

BNP candidate GK Gaus declared that a nationwide wave of support has formed for the party’s electoral symbol, the 'Sheaf of Paddy'. He made the statement on Saturday at a roadside rally in Kadamtali Bazar, Shayestaganj upazila, within the Habiganj-3 constituency. Gaus said that after 17 years of what he described as the Awami League’s suppression of democratic rights, the people are now ready to vote for their preferred candidates.

He emphasized that the 'Sheaf of Paddy' represents development, democracy, prosperity, Islamic values, communal harmony, peace, and public trust. Gaus urged citizens to vote for this symbol in the upcoming election. The event was presided over by ward BNP president Dudon Mia and conducted by upazila Jubo Dal convener Mizanur Rahman Sumon. Other local BNP leaders, including former upazila BNP president and union parishad chairman Golam Kibria Chowdhury Belal, acting president Fazlul Karim, and vice presidents Abdul Hai and Abdus Shahid, also spoke at the gathering.

The rally reflected BNP’s efforts to mobilize grassroots support in Habiganj-3 ahead of the election.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi declared that Iran will not compromise on its defense capabilities. He made the statement on Friday during a joint press conference in Ankara with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, according to The Dawn. Araghchi emphasized that Iran’s missile and defense programs will never be subjects of negotiation.

Turkey has expressed interest in mediating between Iran and the United States to resolve ongoing tensions. The Pentagon stated that the U.S. military is ready to implement any decision by President Trump regarding Iran. However, Trump recently softened his tone, suggesting that an Iranian attack might not be necessary and that dialogue remains possible.

Araghchi welcomed the possibility of dialogue but reiterated Iran’s firm stance on national defense. He said Iran is ready for fair and balanced talks with the United States but insisted that no discussions can take place under threats.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) announced that it will not use lethal weapons while maintaining law and order during the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. The statement was made by Colonel S M Abul Ehsan, Dhaka Sector Commander of BGB, at a press conference held at the temporary base camp of the National Swimming Complex in Mirpur on Saturday morning.

He said BGB has taken extensive preparations across the country to ensure overall security ahead of the national election and referendum. The goal is to allow voters to exercise their voting rights in a safe and peaceful environment. More than 37,000 BGB members will be deployed nationwide while keeping the 4,427-kilometer border fully secured.

According to the announcement, BGB will perform election duties in 489 out of 495 upazilas, and in 61 border upazilas it will act independently. Considering risk levels, BGB will operate as both mobile and static forces in all 300 parliamentary constituencies, with two to four platoons stationed per upazila.

Hundreds of people demonstrated in Albania’s capital, Tirana, protesting Prime Minister Edi Rama’s recent visit to Israel from January 25 to 27. The protesters gathered in front of the parliament building on Friday, expressing solidarity with Palestinians and condemning the visit as unrepresentative of public opinion. The demonstration was organized by various civil society groups, according to Anadolu Agency.

Participants carried banners reading “Not in my name,” “Do not shake hands with oppression and barbarism,” and “Stop bombing Gaza.” Organizer Florjar Arapi said Albanians stand for peace and justice, not genocide or war crimes, calling Rama’s visit a shame and disgrace for the nation. He criticized Rama for aligning Albania with injustice and violence at a time when many countries have distanced themselves from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Protester Sidorela Vatnikaj said Albanians, having experienced genocide in Kosovo, oppose any association with alleged war crimes. She and others expressed anger over Rama’s invitation to Israeli companies to invest in Albania, describing it as colonialism rather than partnership.

Indian state police in Odisha have deported three elderly siblings to Bangladesh after detaining them in late November 2025. The family of 63-year-old Muntaz Khan, his 59-year-old brother Insan Khan, and their 70-year-old sister Amina Bibi were informed on 24 December that the trio had been sent across the border. Police said the siblings were identified as Bangladeshi nationals following verification and were handed over to Bangladesh authorities through West Bengal’s Nadia district border post.

The deportation came weeks after the family alleged that the three had gone missing following their detention from Garapur village in Kendrapara district. Odisha police had earlier detained 12 family members on suspicion of being Bangladeshi citizens, releasing nine after nine days. Officials claimed the three deported individuals admitted to being Bangladeshi, while West Bengal police denied receiving any verification request from Odisha. The Ministry of Home Affairs’ May directive requires a 30-day period for citizenship verification before deportation.

Odisha police justified the action by citing allegations that Muntaz Khan’s father migrated from Bangladesh in the 1970s, though the family’s citizenship status remains disputed.

The US Department of Justice has released millions of documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, marking the largest public disclosure by the government on the case. The release includes about three million pages, 180,000 photos, and 2,000 videos, coming six weeks after the expiration of a law signed by President Donald Trump. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the publication completed a long verification process to ensure transparency and compliance with the law.

The documents mention Donald Trump hundreds of times, including unverified allegations collected by the FBI’s National Threat Operations Center. The Justice Department stated that some of these claims were false and politically motivated, submitted before the 2020 election. Trump has denied any wrongdoing or knowledge of Epstein’s crimes, and no victims have accused him of offenses. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates was also named in the files, with his spokesperson dismissing related claims as “completely false.”

The release also includes emails between Epstein and British figures, including one believed to be Prince Andrew, though no criminal conduct was indicated. Democrats have alleged that around 250,000 documents remain withheld without justification, despite the Justice Department’s claim that its review process is complete.

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Amir Mamunul Haque delivered a fiery speech at an election rally in Chauddagram, Comilla, on Saturday morning. Speaking as a special guest at a gathering organized by the 11-party electoral alliance at HJ Government Pilot High School field, he accused an unnamed political group of hypocrisy over a referendum campaign and warned that no 'munafiq' group would be accepted by the people of Bangladesh.

Haque alleged that the rival party, fearing defeat, had resorted to cowardly acts such as assaulting women. He urged supporters to defend women’s dignity, using strong language to call for retaliation if women were harassed or their hijabs pulled. He cautioned that renewed violence against women would ignite uncontrollable unrest.

Addressing voters, Haque urged them to cast their votes and guard polling stations, saying any attempt at vote theft must be resisted. His remarks reflected heightened political tension ahead of the election.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman has called on all leaders and activists of the party’s affiliated and associate organizations to work together in support of the paddy sheaf symbol. He made the appeal on Saturday at 11:15 a.m. during a meeting with district BNP leaders at the Naz Garden Hall in Bogura. Rahman emphasized that Bogura is known nationwide as a BNP stronghold and urged voters to prove this again by voting for the paddy sheaf on the upcoming 12th.

During his speech, Rahman said that while party members had previously worked for the former chairperson, it was now time to work for him. He instructed activists to visit every household across Bogura’s seven constituencies, especially in Bogura-6 and Bogura-7, and to intensify campaign efforts. The meeting was presided over by district BNP president Rezaul Karim Badsha and conducted by organizational secretary Shahid-un-Nabi Salam.

The event began with prayers for the late former chairperson Khaleda Zia. After the meeting, Rahman departed for Sirajganj, where party workers lined the roads in anticipation of his roadside addresses.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that Iran is likely to pursue a negotiated agreement rather than face potential American military action. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump stated that he believes Iran wants a deal and confirmed he has set a timeline for talks, though he declined to share details. He also mentioned the presence of a large U.S. naval flotilla moving toward Iranian waters and expressed hope that an agreement could be reached.

According to AFP, Tehran has warned that its nuclear and missile programs will never be subjects of negotiation. Trump further noted that he had learned Iran recently decided not to execute protesters, a move human rights groups suggested could indicate Tehran’s willingness to engage in dialogue after reports of thousands of deaths during unrest.

The remarks come as both nations maintain a tense standoff, with U.S. military deployments signaling pressure and Iran signaling limits on what it is willing to discuss.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said his party does not want to see any corrupt or oppressive government and aims to build a humane Bangladesh. He made the remarks on Saturday around 11:45 a.m. while addressing an election rally of the 11-party alliance in Chauddagram as the chief guest. He pledged that if elected, Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher would serve as a senior cabinet member and urged local voters to seize this opportunity.

Dr. Rahman emphasized youth participation, noting that 62 percent of Jamaat’s nominated candidates are young. He promised justice for all, including non-citizens residing in Bangladesh, and said no political party would be allowed to interfere in judicial matters. He criticized divisions based on race, religion, and politics, calling for unity and service-oriented governance.

He also highlighted plans for major educational reforms, asserting that a better education system is essential for building a strong nation. The rally was chaired by Dr. Taher and attended by leaders from allied parties including the National Citizens Party and Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Professor Mia Golam Porwar said that a rival political party has become unsettled after witnessing growing nationwide support for the 'scales' symbol. Speaking on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at an election rally in Chandpur-4 (Faridganj), he accused the rival group of turning fascist and engaging in violence, including the killing of a Quran memorizer. The event was organized for Jamaat and 11-party alliance candidate Maulana Bilal Hossain Miaji.

Porwar alleged that women campaigning for the 'scales' are being attacked and that a local Jamaat secretary in Sherpur was tortured to death. He criticized the three major parties that have ruled Bangladesh over the past 54 years, claiming none were free from corruption or misrule. He said people now seek change.

He added that Jamaat and ten allied parties, including several Islamic groups, the NCP, and LDP, have formed an 11-party alliance free from corruption allegations. If the alliance wins a majority, he pledged to build a just society ensuring equal rights for all religious communities.