Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, the chief of Jamaat-e-Islami and head of the 11-party alliance, is scheduled to visit Feni on Friday. He will attend an election rally at the Feni Government Pilot High School field, where he is expected to deliver the keynote speech at 10 a.m. The event will begin at 8 a.m., according to the announcement made by the Feni district branch of Jamaat-e-Islami during a press conference held on Thursday afternoon at a local restaurant.

The press conference was conducted by district Jamaat secretary Maulana Abdur Rahim and presided over by district Ameer Mufti Abdul Hannan. Several senior party figures were present, including central Majlis-e-Shura member and former Ameer Professor Liaquat Ali Bhuiyan, Master Shamsuddin, Feni-1 Jamaat candidate Advocate S.M. Kamal Uddin, Feni-2 alliance candidate and AB Party chairman Mojibur Rahman Monju, and Feni-3 Jamaat candidate Dr. Fakhruddin Manik. The rally is also expected to feature speeches from other leaders, including former DUCSU VP Sadiq Kayem.

The event marks part of Jamaat-e-Islami’s ongoing election campaign activities in the Feni district.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Tehran does not oppose dialogue or diplomacy but insisted that any talks must be based on balance and mutual respect. In an interview with CNN, he stated that Iran is ready for sincere discussions in accordance with international rules but warned that talks amid fears of war only fuel tension and insecurity. Ghalibaf accused US President Donald Trump of using threats of war to impose his political views.

He referred to a June 2025 US attack against Iran, which occurred two days before the sixth round of indirect negotiations between Washington and Tehran. Ghalibaf emphasized that no talks could take place unless Iran’s national rights, economic interests, and dignity were guaranteed. He said Iran does not consider sanctions, coercion, or surrender as legitimate dialogue.

Ghalibaf added that if Trump truly seeks peace and claims to deserve the Nobel Peace Prize, he must take real steps toward achieving genuine peace. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also cautioned that no decision has yet been made regarding talks with the United States.

BNP-nominated candidate for Dhaka-16 and convener of Dhaka Metropolitan North BNP, Aminul Haque, has called on the public to remain alert against propaganda and conspiracies surrounding the upcoming January 12 election. He made the appeal on Thursday during his eighth day of campaigning in the Mirpur 6 T-block slum area, where he interacted with local residents.

Aminul Haque stated that while some isolated incidents have occurred, attempts are being made to exaggerate them to question the election’s credibility. He claimed that only the BNP has a clear plan for youth education and employment, while accusing Jamaat of misleading people through falsehoods and deceit. He also alleged that Jamaat activists are collecting NID and bKash numbers from households, raising concerns about possible vote fraud.

Following the directives of BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman, Haque said the party seeks a free, fair, and neutral election conducted with tolerance. He expressed confidence that a fair vote on January 12 would allow the people to respond to all conspiracies through the ballot.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman announced that if his party wins the upcoming election, farmers will have their agricultural loans of up to Tk 10,000, including interest, waived. He made the statement on Thursday at 2:30 p.m. during a public rally at the historic Madrasa Ground in Rajshahi. The event marked his first visit to Rajshahi in 22 years and drew enthusiastic crowds of party leaders and supporters.

Rahman also outlined several development commitments for northern Bangladesh, including the construction of the Padma Barrage in Rajshahi, establishment of a cold storage facility for mangoes, and revival of the Barind irrigation project. He criticized the suspension of a major irrigation project along the Padma River, which he said had a budget of about Tk 1,000 crore but had been halted for the past 16 years. He pledged to restore it to full operation.

Additionally, Rahman promised to introduce an agricultural card for farmers to access loans, fertilizer, and seeds, and to set up a specialized hospital and vocational training institute in Rajshahi.

BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed has alleged that Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami is creating nationwide unrest through rallies and gatherings to cast doubt on the upcoming election. He made the remarks on Thursday morning at an electoral road meeting organized by the Union BNP at Uttor Harbang Bottatoli Station in Chakaria, Cox’s Bazar.

Ahmed stated that any deterioration in law and order would be handled by the government, the Election Commission, and the Home Ministry. He warned that attempts to create disorder or politically heat up the field would be rejected by the people, who are waiting for democratic progress. He emphasized that protests should remain peaceful and within democratic norms.

Criticizing Jamaat, Ahmed said the party was misleading people by using religion instead of presenting clear plans or manifestos for the country. He added that BNP has experience in state governance and is moving forward with concrete plans for the people, as outlined by its leader Tarique Rahman.

NCP convener Nahid Islam has accused the BNP of reviving violence similar to that of the Awami League, following the killing of a Jamaat upazila secretary in Sherpur. Speaking at a roadside rally in Sreemangal, Moulvibazar, on Thursday, he warned that if the BNP attempts to seize polling centers through muscle power, the 11-party alliance will not remain idle and will mobilize public resistance. He urged voters to unite behind the Shapla Koli symbol and support candidate Pritam Das in the Moulvibazar-4 constituency.

Other NCP leaders, including election committee chairman Asif Mahmud and joint convener Pritam Das, echoed similar concerns, alleging that a political party has intensified violent activities as the election approaches. They pledged to restore land rights for tea workers, improve local infrastructure, and ensure fair wages. Speakers also criticized what they described as political deception involving promises of case withdrawals in exchange for votes.

The rally featured calls for justice, reform, and unity among diverse communities, with leaders emphasizing that the alliance would remain active on election day to protect voting rights.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman announced that his party would construct the Padma Barrage in Rajshahi if it comes to power. Speaking at a public rally at the historic Madrasa Maidan in Rajshahi at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, he also promised to establish cold storage facilities for mangoes and to reactivate the Barind irrigation project. This was his first visit to Rajshahi in 22 years, which drew enthusiastic responses from party supporters.

Rahman said that if elected, the BNP government would waive agricultural loans of up to 10,000 taka with interest. He recalled that major irrigation initiatives began under former President Ziaur Rahman and expanded during Khaleda Zia’s tenure, significantly benefiting northern Bangladesh’s agriculture. He lamented that a major irrigation project centered on the Padma River, once with a budget of about 1,000 crore taka, had been deliberately halted over the past 16 years.

He assured northern farmers that the irrigation system would extend beyond Rajshahi to Panchagarh, aiming to increase production and farmers’ income across the region.

Women candidates from various political parties are actively campaigning across Dhaka and other districts ahead of Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary election. They report receiving spontaneous support and affection from people in their constituencies. Among them, BNP’s Shama Obaid in Faridpur-2, NCP’s engineer Nabila Tasnid in Dhaka-20 (Dhamrai), and BSD (Marxist) candidates Deepa Majumdar and Asma Akter in Chattogram are drawing attention through their outreach efforts.

Shama Obaid said she aims to continue her father’s democratic legacy and make Faridpur a model district. Nabila Tasnid, a new face in local politics, pledged to focus on youth employment, technical education, IT infrastructure, and agricultural modernization in Dhamrai. BSD’s Deepa Majumdar and Asma Akter are engaging directly with voters in Chattogram, emphasizing women’s participation, education, and voting rights.

According to the report, the women candidates are being warmly received by voters, reflecting growing enthusiasm for female political leadership in the upcoming national election.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman arrived at the Rajshahi rally venue on Thursday at 1:55 p.m., greeting the crowd with a wave. His visit marks his first trip to Rajshahi in 22 years, generating excitement among party leaders and supporters. He is scheduled to deliver a keynote speech as the chief guest at the election rally, which is being held at the historic Madrasa Maidan.

The rally is organized as part of BNP’s election campaign and involves participants from Rajshahi, Natore, and Chapainawabganj districts. According to local BNP leaders, Rahman last visited Rajshahi in 2004 to attend a union representatives’ conference. During this event, he is expected to formally introduce 13 parliamentary candidates from the three districts.

Extensive publicity and preparations have surrounded the rally, reflecting its significance in the party’s regional campaign efforts.

Khelafat Majlis leaders have strongly condemned the killing of a Jamaat leader in Sherpur, describing it as a brutal attack allegedly carried out by local BNP activists. The condemnation came during the party’s central executive meeting held on Wednesday night at its central office in Paltan, Dhaka, chaired by Naib-e-Amir Professor Abdullah Farid. A press release issued on Thursday detailed the party’s concerns over the incident and the overall election environment.

During the meeting, leaders expressed deep concern that the administration had failed to ensure a level playing field for free and fair elections. They alleged that muscle power and political violence had resurfaced, with Khelafat Majlis candidates facing obstacles in their campaigns in constituencies such as Sylhet-3 and Manikganj-2. Election materials were reportedly being destroyed, and members of the 11-party alliance were being attacked.

The party demanded immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of the killers, urging the Election Commission to take effective measures to stop electoral violence. It also called for increased vigilance by returning officers and law enforcement to ensure peaceful polls on February 12.

Advocate Mohammad Shishir Monir, the candidate of the 11-party alliance for the Sunamganj-2 constituency, has called for a transparent and neutral list of presiding and polling officers for the upcoming election. In a video message released on Thursday, he demanded that individuals holding party positions be excluded from the list and not be trained for election duties. He emphasized that intelligence agencies are aware of such affiliations and insisted that no leniency should be shown in ensuring neutrality.

In his live address, which quickly went viral, Monir also urged the deployment of army personnel at vulnerable polling centers and suggested equipping police officers with body cameras, noting that the government has the necessary budget for this. Addressing assistant returning officers, he criticized the lack of proactive measures and encouraged them to use intelligence sources to ensure a fair and impartial election process.

His remarks reflect growing concerns about election transparency and administrative neutrality in the Sunamganj-2 constituency ahead of the polls.

The Shahjadapur Union BNP committee in Sarail upazila of Brahmanbaria has been suspended for allegedly campaigning for independent candidate Rumin Farhana against the BNP-led alliance nominee in the Brahmanbaria-2 (Sarail-Ashuganj) constituency. The decision was announced Wednesday night through a press release signed by upazila BNP office secretary A.B.M. Salauddin, citing violations of party discipline and disregard for central directives. All activities of the 71-member committee will remain halted until further notice.

Earlier, six leaders from the Shahbazpur Union BNP, including its general secretary, were expelled for similar disciplinary breaches. These consecutive actions have sparked widespread discussion within the local BNP. Party and local sources said most Shahjadapur BNP leaders had joined Rumin Farhana’s campaign after the election announcement, ignoring repeated internal warnings.

Sarail upazila BNP president Anisul Islam stated that the suspension aims to uphold party discipline and may be reconsidered if members pledge to follow party decisions. The move has drawn mixed reactions among local activists, with some viewing it as necessary discipline and others as deepening internal division.

A protest rally was held in Dhaka’s Kadamthali area on Thursday morning demanding the arrest of those involved in the attack on Jamaat-e-Islami leader Kazi Maria Islam Baby. The demonstration was organized by the women’s wing of Jamaat-e-Islami’s Kadamthali unit following an assault on Baby during a campaign for party candidate Syed Zainul Abedin in Dhaka-4 constituency. The rally marched through key roads and concluded with a gathering attended by a large number of female activists from Dhaka city and local units.

Speakers at the rally alleged that certain groups were attempting to disrupt the election atmosphere through violence and intimidation. They described Jamaat as a disciplined organization and emphasized their intention to respond peacefully. Participants were urged to continue their outreach work in support of the party’s electoral symbol. The attack, which occurred on Wednesday afternoon in Ward 52 of Kadamthali, left Baby injured with four stitches on her head. The incident has drawn strong condemnation from Dhaka South Jamaat and candidate Syed Zainul Abedin.

Twelve leaders of the National Citizens Party (NCP) in Habiganj district resigned on Wednesday night, January 28, 2026, alleging the rehabilitation of fascist forces and the deliberate exclusion of July fighters. The announcement came during an emergency press conference at the party’s temporary office in the Babystand area of Habiganj town. Two days earlier, senior joint member secretary Palash Mahmud had also resigned, bringing the total number of resignations to thirteen.

At the press conference, the resigning leaders claimed that the NCP’s central committee had deviated from its centrist political stance by joining two alliances within two months. They also accused senior leaders and advisers of corruption and expressed dissatisfaction over candidate nominations, saying July fighters were unwilling to support the nominated candidates. The leaders alleged that grassroots activists linked to the July movement were excluded to create a loyal faction, while the district committee failed organizationally.

Palash Mahmud confirmed that all thirteen resignation letters had been sent to the central committee. He said the decision stemmed from frustration and that he currently saw no centrist political party in Bangladesh to join.

Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir has declared that the country’s armed forces are fully prepared to safeguard national sovereignty and regional integrity against all forms of threats. He made the statement on Wednesday during a visit to the Bahawalpur Garrison, according to a release from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) cited by Geo News.

During the inspection, Munir praised the officers and soldiers for their high morale, professional competence, and operational readiness. He emphasized the importance of maintaining maximum preparedness to meet future battlefield and security challenges.

Munir noted that the Pakistan Armed Forces are undergoing significant transformation across various sectors. He said that the nature of warfare is rapidly evolving due to technological advancements and that future conflicts will depend heavily on technological strategies. To address this, Pakistan’s military is swiftly adopting modern technologies.