Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd.) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has stated that honesty, efficiency, and professionalism will be the key strengths of Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament Election. Speaking on Thursday at a law and order coordination meeting at the Bangladesh Police Auditorium in Rajarbagh, Dhaka, he emphasized that government officials and law enforcement personnel must perform their duties with complete neutrality. He warned that no political bias or favoritism would be tolerated and that any official found working for a candidate or political agenda would face strict legal and departmental action.

The meeting, organized by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Dhaka Divisional Commissioner’s Office, was chaired by Senior Secretary Nasimul Gani and attended by senior police and administrative officials. The adviser instructed all election-related officers to strictly follow the Representation of the People (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 and the Political Party and Candidate Code of Conduct 2025. He also directed that subordinates be regularly briefed on election conduct rules and that daily or periodic meetings be held to review preparations and compliance.

Chowdhury expressed optimism that with collective effort, the upcoming national election would set a standard appreciated both domestically and internationally.

In Bhola’s Charfassion municipality under the Bhola-4 constituency, Jamaat-e-Islami’s local unit held a counter press conference on Thursday afternoon denying allegations of harassment made by Islami Andolan Bangladesh. The dispute arose after Islami Andolan’s female activist Maria Kamal claimed on Wednesday that two Jamaat workers obstructed and harassed her during election campaigning. Jamaat’s Charfassion unit chief, Mir Mohammad Sharif Hossain, rejected the accusation and presented a different version of events.

According to Jamaat’s statement, the incident occurred around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday in Ward 6, when Maria Kamal, her son Tahzib, and Youth Andolan secretary Faisal were distributing leaflets for Islami Andolan’s Bhola-4 candidate A.M.M. Kamal Uddin. A verbal dispute reportedly broke out with locals over remarks about political alliances. Jamaat alleged that Faisal assaulted a retired teacher and later attacked a mosque imam who tried to record the scene, injuring him. The imam was hospitalized afterward.

Jamaat leaders said no woman was harassed and accused Islami Andolan of spreading false claims on social media despite a local reconciliation. Earlier that morning, Islami Andolan’s candidate Kamal Uddin had demanded punishment for those allegedly involved in the attack.

Govinda Chandra Pramanik, secretary general of the Bangladesh National Hindu Grand Alliance and an independent candidate for Gopalganj-03 (Tungipara-Kotalipara), visited the grave of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Tungipara on Thursday afternoon. Standing with his supporters at Gate No. 3 of the mausoleum, he offered prayers and told journalists that visiting the resting place of the Father of the Nation had been a long-cherished dream. He described the site as a sacred place for all Bengalis and said it was a privilege to pay respects there.

Explaining his decision to contest the election, Pramanik said several well-wishers from the Hindu community had faced obstacles in submitting nomination papers, including arrests and intimidation. He stated that his candidacy aimed to encourage participation in the electoral process and reduce fear among minority voters. Pramanik also criticized the BNP candidate, accusing him of trying to discourage competition and seeking an uncontested victory.

After the prayer, Pramanik and his supporters distributed leaflets across Tungipara to promote his election symbol, the horse, as part of his campaign activities.

Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumdar said that efforts are underway to arrest the real culprits involved in the recent violence between BNP and Jamaat in Sherpur, which resulted in the death of a Jamaat leader. He made the statement on Thursday during a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka, responding to questions from journalists.

Majumdar stated that strong measures are being taken and that law enforcement agencies are working based on video footage and witness testimony to identify and arrest those truly responsible. He emphasized that the investigation aims to avoid indiscriminate arrests, ensuring that innocent people are not harassed while the actual offenders do not escape justice.

According to the press secretary, police are conducting a close investigation to specifically identify those responsible for the incident, focusing on evidence-based arrests rather than broad operations.

Two cases have been filed at Valuka Model Police Station in Mymensingh against more than 1,500 BNP leaders and activists, including party-nominated candidate Fakhruddin Ahmed Bacchu, over incidents of election violence. The cases, numbered 33 and 34, were lodged on the night of January 28 by complainants Atikul Islam and Aman Ullah. A total of 191 individuals were named, while about 1,400 others were listed as unidentified.

According to the case details, on January 25, independent candidate Alhaj Muhammad Morshed Alam began campaigning in the Batajor area with his supporters when, allegedly under Bacchu’s direction, BNP activists armed with local weapons obstructed the campaign, assaulted several workers, and vandalized three motorcycles. Later that evening, BNP supporters reportedly attacked the office of Jubo Dal leader Shamim Ahmed at Seedstore Bazar, injuring three people and setting fire to seven or eight motorcycles.

Valuka Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Zahidul Islam stated that four counter-cases have been filed by both sides over the violence. One accused from the BNP side, who was handed over to police, is currently under treatment under police guard.

The Government of Bangladesh has issued the 'Domestic Violence Prevention Ordinance, 2026' to prevent and suppress family-related crimes and ensure speedy trials. The announcement was made on Thursday, January 29, through a press release from the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing. The ordinance replaces the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act, 2010, introducing a more comprehensive and updated legal structure aimed at protecting women and children from domestic abuse.

According to the release, the ordinance defines domestic violence broadly to include physical, mental, sexual, and economic abuse. It also recognizes mental abuse that harms psychological well-being and includes provisions addressing digital forms of mental abuse. The ordinance sets a target to resolve most cases within 60 working days and criminalizes violations of court orders such as protection, residence, or compensation directives. Accountability measures have been introduced for enforcement and police officers failing in their duties.

The government stated that this ordinance represents a strong step toward ensuring family safety, dignity, and justice, and will support the implementation of a zero-tolerance policy against violence toward women and children.

An allegation has been raised that a plan to kill independent candidate Hasan Mamun in the Patuakhali-3 (Galachipa-Dashmina) constituency is underway. The claim was made on Thursday morning at a press conference held at Mamun’s election headquarters, where former senior joint general secretary of Dashmina Upazila BNP, Md. Fokoruzzaman Badol, accused Ganadhikar Parishad president and BNP-backed candidate Nurul Haque Nur of orchestrating the plot.

In a written statement, Badol alleged that Nur held three meetings with Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad and received illegal funds for anti-state activities, as reportedly stated by the Palestinian ambassador. He further claimed that Nur earned large sums through lobbying after August 5 and was using the money for election expenses, pressuring BNP activists with financial incentives to support him.

Badol also alleged that Nur’s supporters attacked Mamun’s campaign offices, spread false propaganda using AI, and conducted nighttime armed displays with outsiders. Several BNP leaders, including Abdul Alim Talukdar and Elamul Haque Ratan, were present at the press conference.

The government of Bangladesh has issued the 'Prevention of Sexual Harassment at Workplaces and Educational Institutions Ordinance, 2026' to ensure safety, dignity, and non-discrimination in professional and academic environments. The ordinance received final and policy approval at the Advisory Council meeting on Thursday, January 29, and took immediate effect across the country. It also applies to government-affiliated institutions located outside Bangladesh.

The ordinance provides a broad definition of sexual harassment, covering physical, verbal, non-verbal, digital, and online behaviors, including those committed through social media, email, and messaging platforms. It mandates the formation of Internal Complaint Committees (ICC) in all applicable workplaces and educational institutions to receive complaints, conduct investigations, ensure protection during inquiries, and recommend disciplinary actions ranging from reprimand to dismissal or expulsion. For informal sectors, local complaint committees will be formed under district and upazila administrations.

National, district, and upazila-level monitoring committees will oversee implementation, while a special fund will support victims with financial aid, rehabilitation, counseling, legal assistance, and awareness programs.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman told Al Jazeera in an interview that if his party comes to power, the decision to implement Islamic law will rest with the parliament, not with him personally. He stated that if such a move is deemed essential for the country's development, the parliament will make that determination. Rahman emphasized that Jamaat is participating in elections under the existing national laws and will act in accordance with the people's will, not against it.

Addressing a question about whether a woman could ever serve as the party’s chief, Rahman said it would not be possible. He explained that men and women have distinct roles as created by God, and these differences cannot be altered. He argued that a mother who gives birth could not simultaneously fulfill the responsibilities of the party’s top leadership, asserting that only God knows best.

The interview highlights Jamaat’s stance on governance, gender roles, and its approach to aligning political decisions with public sentiment and religious principles.

The Bangladesh Coast Guard has launched special surveillance operations in Sandwip’s coastal and island areas to ensure security ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election and Referendum 2026. At a press briefing on Thursday, Coast Guard Director General Rear Admiral Mohammad Ziaul Haque announced that 353 skilled personnel have been deployed considering Sandwip’s unique geographic position. The special deployment began on January 18 and will continue until February 14.

According to the briefing, Coast Guard teams will work continuously to safeguard polling centers across the mainland, river routes, and isolated islands. Strong patrol units will operate round the clock to facilitate the safe transport of election materials and voter movement. Drone surveillance will be used in remote and sensitive areas to prevent sabotage. Rear Admiral Haque emphasized maintaining peace and order in coastal regions and ensuring a fear-free environment for voters to exercise their rights.

The Coast Guard is coordinating with local administration to sustain public enthusiasm for the referendum organized by the interim government. Its intelligence wing remains alert to prevent illegal intrusion or disorder through waterways.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has expelled 27 of its leaders from all positions, including their primary membership, for allegedly violating party decisions and engaging in activities against the organization. The announcement was made on Thursday, January 29, 2026, through a notice signed by the party’s Senior Joint Secretary General, Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

According to the notice, the expelled individuals include leaders from Mymensingh South District’s Bhaluka Upazila BNP, Narayanganj’s Siddhirganj Thana BNP, and Sonargaon Upazila and Municipality BNP units. The party stated that the decision was taken after allegations of disobeying organizational directives and participating in activities contrary to party interests were proven against them.

The expulsions reflect BNP’s internal disciplinary measures aimed at maintaining organizational unity and adherence to central directives, as stated in the official notice.

The High Court has dismissed a rule questioning the legality of the Chattogram Port Authority’s ongoing process to sign an operational agreement with a foreign company for managing the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT). The single bench of Justice Zafar Ahmed delivered the verdict on Thursday, confirming that there is no legal barrier to the agreement. The court found that the process followed the 2017 procurement policy and a memorandum of understanding under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework with Dubai government-backed DP World.

Earlier, on July 30, the High Court had issued a rule asking why the process should not be declared beyond legal authority and why competitive public bidding should not be ensured before appointing an operator. On December 4, a split verdict was delivered by a two-member bench, prompting the Chief Justice to assign the matter to Justice Zafar Ahmed for final disposal.

Following the ruling, one of the petitioners’ lawyers said an appeal has been filed with the Appellate Division seeking a stay on the majority decision that dismissed the writ petition.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has decided to issue journalist identification cards and vehicle stickers manually for the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. The decision was announced on Thursday, January 29, 2026, by EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed, who said the manual process details would be shared soon. Journalists who already applied online will remain eligible, while those who did not apply online can collect their cards directly from the EC office.

Earlier, the EC had invited online applications for journalist cards and vehicle stickers for election coverage, but the process faced complications. Chief Election Commissioner A M M Nasir Uddin had assured a quick resolution to the issue. Journalist leaders had also given the EC an ultimatum to resolve the matter by Sunday, February 1, prompting the commission to abandon the online system.

The EC’s shift to manual issuance aims to remove procedural delays and ensure that journalists can perform their professional duties smoothly during the national election period.

The Commonwealth and the European Union, along with several other international organizations, are sending large observer missions to monitor Bangladesh’s national election on February 12 and the constitutional reform referendum scheduled for July. According to information from Dhaka, the observer teams will be extensive in size. Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Botchwey announced in London that former Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo will lead a 14-member Commonwealth observer group, supported by experts from multiple fields and a secretariat team headed by Linford Andrews.

The Commonwealth stated that its mission will assess whether the election and referendum are conducted credibly, transparently, and inclusively, reporting in accordance with Bangladesh’s laws and standards. The EU confirmed that around 200 observers from its 27 member states, along with representatives from Norway, Switzerland, and Canada, will join its Election Observation Mission led by Latvian MP Ivars Ijabs. The EU mission began operations on December 29 with an 11-member core team, followed by 56 long-term observers deployed nationwide and 90 short-term observers to join before election day.

Government coordinator Lamia Morshed said international confirmations are increasing daily, reflecting confidence in the interim government and the Election Commission to ensure a free and fair vote.

A group of students from Rajshahi University, led by Senate member Fahim Reza, displayed red cards to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Thursday in protest against the killing of a Jamaat leader in Sherpur, attacks on women, and what they described as nationwide anarchy. The demonstration took place around 10:30 a.m. in front of the university’s main gate along the Dhaka–Rajshahi highway, coinciding with BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman’s visit to Rajshahi for an election rally.

Participants carried placards condemning killings and violence against women, with slogans criticizing BNP’s political actions. Fahim Reza compared BNP’s conduct to repeated fouls in football, saying the party was attacking opponents and women and had committed the first murder linked to the election. He alleged that BNP had already been responsible for over two hundred killings and urged the government and law enforcement to ensure a fair national election on February 12.

The protest reflected growing campus-level discontent over political violence ahead of the upcoming national polls.