Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s women’s wing is set to hold a ‘protest rally’ at Dhaka’s Suhrawardy Udyan on January 31. JAKSU Assistant General Secretary (Shibir-supported panel) Ayesha Siddika Meghla described the upcoming event as a groundbreaking movement for the party. She expressed her anticipation to hear from the women’s division, making the remarks in a verified Facebook post on January 27.

In her post, Meghla recalled that during Jamaat’s previous grand rally, she had suggested that women should also organize a similar gathering. At that time, many women told her such an event would not be possible due to logistical and social challenges. She noted that Jamaat’s women’s division had previously held an international program, which inspired her belief that a large-scale women’s rally in Bangladesh could also be achieved.

Meghla further commented that the women’s rally represents a historic step for Jamaat-e-Islami, comparing it to the party’s earlier pre-election policy summit that had drawn attention. She said she expects the upcoming event to be similarly significant.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has issued strict directives to ensure security and voter privacy ahead of the upcoming 13th National Parliament election and referendum. According to a circular signed by EC Deputy Secretary Mohammad Monir Hossain, no candidate or supporter will be allowed to set up campaign camps within 400 yards of any polling center. The circular has already been sent to all returning officers for implementation.

The EC instructed that each polling center must have designated secret rooms or marking places to maintain voter confidentiality. These rooms must be constructed to prevent anyone from seeing how a voter casts their ballot, and any windows or open spaces must be covered. As voters will cast two ballots—one for the parliamentary election and one for the referendum—each center should have two secret rooms or additional voting booths where necessary. The EC also directed that transparent ballot boxes be used exclusively, with one box per booth and one extra kept in reserve.

The circular further prohibits campaign materials such as posters and leaflets within the restricted area and bans the use of vehicles by candidates or their representatives to transport voters on election day.

At a press conference in Rangpur’s July-36 Square on Tuesday, National Citizen Party (NCP) district convener Al Mamun accused Jatiya Party chairman GM Quader of campaigning for the 'No' vote and adopting a fascist stance. He alleged that Quader’s activities align with the agenda of neighboring India and go against the democratic aspirations of the country.

Al Mamun stated that those who supported the July Movement are backing the 'Yes' vote, while those who opposed it are supporting the 'No' vote. He claimed that GM Quader is the only political leader openly conducting large-scale campaigns for the 'No' vote, thereby presenting himself as a supporter of fascism. Mamun further said that a victory for the 'Yes' vote would prevent the return of fascism and block the re-establishment of one-man rule.

The press conference was attended by several NCP city leaders, including Abdul Malek, Shanti Kaderi, Sharif Hossain, Khalilur Rahman, Mahfuzur Rahman, Mahfuz Shah, Niaz Morshed, and Sheikh Rezwan.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said the party would not seek revenge against anyone if it wins the upcoming election, promising forgiveness for all. Speaking as the chief guest at a campaign rally on Tuesday, January 27, at Satkhira Government Boys’ School field, he warned that those involved in corruption or black money dealings would be firmly resisted.

Dr. Rahman stated that if Jamaat comes to power, extortion and business syndicates would be dismantled, and a society based on justice and fairness would be established. He emphasized that no one would be allowed to exploit people’s wealth or dignity and that the party would not bow to any form of dominance. He also criticized the alleged harassment of female party workers, questioning the inconsistency between government welfare promises and disrespect toward women.

Calling for unity ahead of the February 12 election, Dr. Rahman urged citizens to stand for the “yes vote” campaign to rebuild the nation. Several party leaders and local candidates also addressed the rally under the chairmanship of Satkhira district Jamaat chief Shahidul Islam Mukul.

Women activists of Jamaat-e-Islami in Gopalpur upazila, Tangail, held a protest march on Tuesday demanding justice for an alleged assault by BNP supporters. The incident reportedly occurred on Monday in Suti Nayapara village of Gopalpur municipality’s Ward No. 7, where several women Jamaat workers were attacked while campaigning for Maulana Humayun Kabir, the Jamaat candidate for Tangail-2 constituency. The attackers were identified as followers of local BNP activists.

In response, the women’s wing of Jamaat organized a protest procession starting from Gohata Jame Mosque premises at 11 a.m., which marched through various streets of the municipal area and ended with a human chain and rally in front of Gopalpur Police Station. The event was presided over by Gopalpur upazila Jamaat Amir Habibur Rahman Talukdar, with speeches from Maulana Humayun Kabir and several district-level women leaders including Nasrin Sultana and Rahima Sultana.

The protesters demanded accountability for those involved in the attack and called for fair treatment of their activists during the election campaign.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has imposed strict nationwide restrictions on vehicle movement ahead of the 13th National Election and referendum. According to a letter signed by Deputy Secretary Mohammad Monir Hossain on January 27, motorcycles will be banned from February 10 midnight to February 13 midnight, while taxis, pickups, microbuses, and trucks will be restricted for 24 hours on February 12, the polling day. The directive was sent to the Secretary of the Road Transport and Highways Division.

The EC circular allows limited exemptions for essential and authorized vehicles, including those of law enforcement, armed forces, administration, election observers, ambulances, emergency services, and media transport. Vehicles carrying medicines, health supplies, newspapers, and passengers with valid air tickets are also exempt. Candidates and their agents may use one vehicle each with returning officer approval and visible stickers. Telecommunications service vehicles under BTRC are classified as emergency transport.

Local administrations, including district magistrates and metropolitan police commissioners, have been empowered to relax or extend restrictions based on local needs and conditions.

Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman has called on army personnel to perform their election duties with professionalism, neutrality, patience, and citizen-friendly behavior. He made the appeal during a meeting at the Rajshahi Cantonment, where troops have been deployed under the 'In Aid to the Civil Power' framework for the upcoming National Election and Referendum 2026. The Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR) provided this information to the media.

According to ISPR, the Army Chief observed the activities of deployed personnel on the ground and gave necessary directives. He also held discussions with the civil administration and attended a meeting organized by the Bangladesh Infantry Regimental Centre (BIRC) involving senior military, divisional, and district officials, as well as representatives from various law enforcement agencies. The discussions focused on inter-agency coordination and overall security management to ensure a peaceful, neutral, and fair national election.

Senior military officers from the Army Training and Doctrine Command, the 11th Infantry Division, and Bogura Area Command, along with the Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner and other senior civil and law enforcement officials, were present at the meeting.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman announced that his party will establish a government hospital in Dhaka’s Uttara area if it comes to power. He made the statement early Tuesday during an election rally at Azampur Eidgah ground in Uttara, emphasizing that the hospital is a long-standing demand of local residents, particularly for low- and middle-income families. Rahman said the initiative would be taken if the BNP’s election symbol, the paddy sheaf, wins in the January 12 election.

In his speech, Rahman also acknowledged the contribution of Uttara residents to the August 5 student and public uprising, saying their role would be remembered in history. He highlighted ongoing problems in the area, including irregular gas supply despite regular billing, and linked it to a nationwide issue of halted gas exploration. He further pledged to address water shortages, waterlogging, and traffic congestion if his party forms the next government.

The rally concluded around 1:20 a.m., after which Rahman departed for his residence in Gulshan.

ATM Azharul Islam, Nayeb-e-Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, said the party would serve as public servants rather than rulers if elected. He made the statement on Tuesday afternoon at a youth rally in support of the party’s 'Dharipalla' (scales) symbol in Badarganj Sadar, Rangpur. The rally began at Sahapur field, paraded through key roads, and ended at the Upazila Parishad road, with a large number of youth activists carrying party flags, banners, and festoons.

In his address, Azharul Islam said the absence of honest and competent leadership had prevented the creation of a corruption-free state. He argued that corrupt leadership could never build a corruption-free Bangladesh and urged voters to elect honest, qualified, and patriotic leaders. He emphasized that Jamaat-e-Islami had no place for corruption, terrorism, or extortion and that past governments had exploited the people.

Azharul Islam also referred to the July 2024 mass uprising, saying it made current political expression possible. He called on supporters to uphold the spirit of that movement and vote for the 'Dharipalla' symbol to establish a just, corruption-free society based on Islamic values.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman has called for the restoration of voting rights, alleging killings, repression, and disenfranchisement over the past decade. Speaking at a public rally at Mymensingh Circuit House field on Tuesday afternoon, he said the only path to national recovery is ensuring citizens’ right to vote. He emphasized that the upcoming election on the 12th will allow people to exercise this right, which he described as essential for reflecting the people’s will in governance.

Rahman said the absence of voting rights has left basic issues unresolved across the country, including river erosion, employment shortages, and poor infrastructure in education, health, and transportation. He announced plans for a “Krishak Card” to deliver fertilizer, seeds, and pesticides directly to farmers, and a “Family Card” to support women and poor households if the BNP forms government. He also pledged to expand hospitals, strengthen rural healthcare, and promote fish farming and agricultural exports.

Rahman concluded by urging unity across religious and social lines, asserting that collective action is necessary to establish public accountability and democratic governance.

Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd.) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury stated that there is no risk of election disruption as, according to him, Awami fascists and their militant associates have fled the country. He said that if they had courage, they would have sought legal recourse within the country. Chowdhury added that their supporters are also absconding abroad, and the government will request those countries to repatriate them.

He made these remarks on Tuesday morning at the parade ground of Kashimpur Central Jail in Gazipur, after attending the closing ceremony of the 63rd batch of female prison guards’ basic training course. The adviser emphasized that prisons are sensitive and vital institutions forming an integral part of the criminal justice system, where security and human rights must complement each other.

Chowdhury expressed hope that the newly trained guards would perform their duties with honesty, skill, and professionalism. The event was attended by senior prison officials, police, and local administrators, with trainee Raihana Akter Subarna receiving the best trainee award among 866 participants.

BNP Standing Committee member and Dhaka-8 candidate Mirza Abbas said on Tuesday, January 27, that his invitation for tea was being misrepresented as a threat. Speaking at a campaign event in Gulbag, Malibagh, he claimed that opponents were trying to provoke conflict and accused them of labeling him unfairly. Abbas emphasized that he would not fall into any traps and urged all candidates to seek votes based on their contributions to the area.

Following the rally, Abbas conducted public outreach from Mouchak to Rajarbagh Police Gate and later led a large procession organized by the local BNP and affiliated groups. He criticized rival candidates as temporary figures who appear only during elections and highlighted his long-standing presence in national politics since 1991. Abbas also rejected allegations of extortion, saying those making such claims were themselves responsible for such acts.

He asserted that voters would ultimately judge his opponents on February 12, suggesting that the public would issue them a “red card” for their behavior.

Home Affairs Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said there is no problem if fairs are held beyond 400 yards of polling centers, as such events would not disrupt the environment. He made the remarks on Sunday after a meeting of the Home Ministry’s Core Committee on law and order, responding to journalists’ questions about election-related activities. When asked about possible contradictions with earlier statements from other advisers, he said he currently had no information and would clarify the matter after the next meeting.

Chowdhury also stated that there is no security risk surrounding the upcoming parliamentary elections, a position he has maintained for the past year. In his written statement, he outlined the ministry’s preparations, including the formation of a law and order coordination cell for the 2026 national election and referendum, reviews of anti-drug and illegal arms recovery operations, and measures to prevent untoward incidents during campaigns.

He emphasized that security remains the ministry’s top priority and directed law enforcement agencies to act impartially, avoid illegal orders, and maintain public trust to ensure peaceful elections.

Nahid Islam, the convener of the Nationalist Citizens’ Party (NCP), alleged that the attack on Nasiruddin Patwari at Habibullah Bahar College in Dhaka’s Ramna area occurred under the direction of BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas and with the consent of Tarique Rahman. He claimed that identified activists from the BNP’s student wing, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, carried out the assault in a planned manner. Nahid made these allegations at an emergency press conference on Tuesday, describing the incident as a “planned terrorist attack.”

He warned that such actions would not be tolerated and called on the Election Commission, the college administration, and the BNP to take appropriate measures. Nahid also announced that his party would respond on the streets on February 12 if no action was taken. Patwari is contesting the Dhaka-8 constituency as a candidate of the Jamaat-led ten-party electoral alliance, while Mirza Abbas is running from the same seat for the BNP.

During the press conference, Nahid criticized Abbas’s political history and accused the BNP of attempting to rehabilitate Awami League-style politics through violence. He also reminded that the public has not forgotten the BNP’s past from 2001 to 2006.

BNP candidate and party chairperson’s adviser Khandaker Abdul Muktadir stated that a nationwide wave of public enthusiasm has emerged since BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman returned to the country. He made the remarks on Tuesday during a daylong mass outreach campaign across various parts of Sylhet city, where he said people are eager to vote for the BNP’s electoral symbol, the paddy sheaf.

The campaign began in Pathantula under Muktadir’s leadership and turned into a large procession with spontaneous participation from BNP leaders, activists, and local residents. The rally stretched several kilometers through multiple neighborhoods, where women greeted Muktadir with flowers from their homes and expressed anticipation to vote after nearly one and a half decades. Senior BNP leaders from city and district units joined the event.

Separately, tea workers from Lakkatura Tea Garden publicly declared their full support for the BNP’s paddy sheaf symbol at a rally on Monday night, saying they were united to ensure its victory.