BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman arrived in Chattogram on Saturday evening, January 24, 2026, marking his first visit to the city in 21 years. He landed at Shah Amanat International Airport at 7:15 p.m., where senior BNP leaders including Salahuddin Ahmed and Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury welcomed him. Rahman traveled from his residence in Gulshan to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport earlier that evening before flying to Chattogram.

According to BNP Political Adviser and Election Committee Spokesperson Mahdi Amin, Rahman will attend six campaign rallies across four districts on Sunday as part of the party’s nationwide campaign for the 13th National Parliamentary Election. His first rally will be held at Chattogram’s Polo Ground at 11:30 a.m., followed by events in Feni, Comilla, and Narayanganj later in the day. The Comilla visit marks his first political appearance there in 24 years.

The tour follows the launch of Rahman’s election campaign in Sylhet on January 22, where he held rallies in seven districts before returning to Dhaka.

Tension erupted at Dhaka University following allegations of extortion, counterclaims, vandalism, and arson linked to mobile shop evictions on campus. On Saturday night, January 24, Daksu executive member Sarbamitra Chakma posted several video clips from December 21, accusing multiple students of extortion. The videos showed students striking mobile food carts with hammers and setting one on fire. However, another part of the footage obtained by the newspaper showed proctorial team members initiating the vandalism and handing hammers to students.

Students involved in the incident told the newspaper they had earlier faced eviction attempts by the administration near the IML gate and later called the proctorial team to remove illegal shops around TSC. They denied the extortion allegations, claiming the issue was being revived before elections to create momentum. Chakma said evidence was being organized for public display in front of Daksu.

The university had previously banned mobile shops on campus through a notice signed by Proctor Saifuddin Ahmed. Proctorial team members said internal divisions among students and lobbying by Daksu leaders complicated enforcement of the eviction order.

Independent candidate Alhaj Muhammad Murshed Alam, contesting from Mymensingh-11 (Valuka) constituency with the deer symbol, held a press conference on January 24, 2026, alleging attacks, threats, and obstruction of campaign activities against his supporters. He claimed that since the start of campaigning on January 22, workers of the paddy-sheaf symbol candidate have been continuously attacking his campaigners.

According to his written statement, female workers were harassed in Nayanpur area of Mallikbari Union, and several people were injured in an attack in Randia village of Dhitpur Union, later admitted to the Upazila Health Complex. He also alleged that campaign activities were being disrupted in various areas of Uthura and Rajoi unions, with loudspeakers and auto-rickshaws being stopped to create fear among voters.

Murshed Alam urged the administration to take immediate legal action against those involved and ensure a peaceful election environment, warning that a fair and free election would not be possible under current conditions. Several local BNP leaders were present at the press conference.

A ten-party alliance has stepped up its campaign in the haor region constituencies of Madan, Mohanganj, and Khaliajuri, which together form Netrakona-4. The alliance is determined to secure victory for the scale symbol by defeating BNP heavyweight and former state minister for home affairs Lutfozzaman Babar, who is contesting under the paddy sheaf symbol. On Saturday, January 24, alliance workers, led by Jamaat-e-Islami–nominated candidate Al Helal Talukder, visited door to door across Madan upazila seeking votes.

The alliance, which includes Jamaat-e-Islami, has shown no willingness to compromise in its efforts to win the seat. Workers have been campaigning from morning until night across the villages and haor areas. Meanwhile, Babar’s wife, Tahmina Zaman Shraboni, has also joined the campaign to support her husband’s candidacy.

The contest in Netrakona-4 is shaping up as a key electoral battle ahead of the 13th national parliamentary election, with both sides intensifying grassroots outreach in the region.

The Indian High Commission in Dhaka hosted a grand reception on Saturday evening to mark India’s 77th Republic Day. The event, held at the Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel, was attended by diplomats, political figures, retired military officers, senior government officials, and civil society representatives. Among the guests were Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar and Central Executive Committee member Mobarak Hossain.

Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma and Mrs. Manu Verma invited the guests and personally welcomed attendees. During the event, the High Commissioner greeted Mia Golam Porwar, who conveyed greetings on behalf of Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman to the people of India, wishing them happiness, prosperity, and well-being.

The participation of Jamaat leaders at the Indian High Commission’s Republic Day celebration reflected diplomatic engagement across political lines within Bangladesh’s capital.

Kafrul West Thana unit of Jamaat-e-Islami organized a procession and public outreach in support of the party’s Amir and Dhaka-25 constituency candidate, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman. The event took place on Saturday evening, beginning in front of the Kazi Para Central Jame Mosque on Begum Rokeya Sarani and moving through key roads in Kazi Para and East Sheorapara before concluding near the Sheorapara Metro Rail Station.

The rally was led by Laskar Md. Tasnim, central vice-president of the Bangladesh Labour Welfare Federation, along with Kafrul West Thana Amir Md. Abdul Matin Khan, Thana Secretary Maulana Md. Atik Hasan Raihan, and several other local leaders. The procession ended with a brief address by Thana Secretary Maulana Md. Atik Hasan Raihan.

The event was part of Jamaat-e-Islami’s campaign activities in Dhaka, highlighting local organizational support for Dr. Shafiqur Rahman’s candidacy in the upcoming election.

More than 500 former leaders and activists of the BNP and its student wing joined the Nationalist Citizens Party (NCP) in Hatiya, Noakhali, on Saturday evening. The joining ceremony took place at the NCP’s upazila office, where the new members formally joined by placing their hands in those of Abdul Hannan Masud, the ten-party alliance candidate. Among the new entrants were former municipal Chhatra Dal convener Mohibubur Rahman, Jahajmara Union Chhatra Dal president Abdul Hannan, and several other former leaders from different BNP-affiliated bodies.

At a press conference, Abdul Hannan Masud stated that anyone except those involved in terrorism or extortion could join the NCP. He said leaders from various unions were contacting them daily, and the party had already recruited many individually. Masud added that under the leadership of 17 former BNP and affiliated leaders, over 500 activists had joined the NCP, expressing his goal of building a terrorism- and extortion-free Hatiya.

The event marked the beginning of what Masud described as a continuing wave of new memberships from different political backgrounds in the region.

Advocate Wadud, the Naib-e-Ameer of Bagerhat district Jamaat and candidate for the Bagerhat-3 (Mongla-Rampal) constituency, has warned that a group is attempting to deceive the public by showing family cards. Speaking as the chief guest at an election rally in Mithakhali Union of Mongla upazila on Saturday, January 24, 2026, he urged people to remain alert and united against extortion and corruption.

During his address, Wadud emphasized the need for collective resistance against illegal activities ahead of the upcoming national election. He stated that good initiatives would be supported while wrongdoing would be opposed, and that the public should stand together to resist injustice. He described educational institutions as the “second parliament” of Bangladesh, encouraging voters to elect honest and qualified leaders.

Wadud expressed optimism that the youth would play a decisive role in forming an honest and capable government through united voting. The rally was attended by numerous local Jamaat leaders, including Mongla upazila Jamaat’s Naib-e-Ameer and former vice chairman Md. Kohinur Sardar.

A clash broke out between two factions of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in Baraigram upazila of Natore on Saturday over setting up two separate election offices at the same spot in Ahmadpur Bazar. The incident left Kamal Hossain, a former ward member and coordinator of the Joari Union election committee, and Sajedur Rahman, member secretary of the upazila labour wing, injured.

According to local sources, BNP activists supporting Abdul Aziz, the party’s candidate for Natore-4 constituency, had opened two separate offices in Ahmadpur Bazar. On Saturday, leaders and activists gathered there under the leadership of upazila election committee convener Principal Ashraf Ali and member secretary Shamsul Alam Roni to begin campaign leaflet distribution. Disagreement arose when the committee leaders asked everyone to unite, leading to an argument that escalated into a physical altercation.

Baraigram Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abdus Salam said he had heard about the incident but no written complaint had been filed. He added that local leaders were expected to resolve the matter internally.

Maulana Yasin Arafat, Jamaat-e-Islami candidate for Comilla-10 constituency and former central president of Islami Chhatra Shibir, pledged to eliminate corruption, extortion, and drug trading if elected. Speaking on Saturday afternoon at a campaign rally near the main gate of Nangalkot Government College, he said his party would end the politics of revenge, grouping, and killings in Nangalkot and ensure that no one is persecuted for political or ideological reasons.

Arafat emphasized that the future direction of Bangladesh and the next generation’s path depend on bringing the ten-party alliance to power. He urged voters to support the alliance’s symbol, the balance scale, to establish justice and welfare in the country. The rally was presided over by Maulana Jamal Uddin, Jamaat’s Nangalkot upazila amir, and attended by several local leaders and guests including banker Dr. Delwar Hossain and Maulana Golam Kabir Bhuiyan.

The event reflected Jamaat’s campaign focus on unity, justice, and moral governance ahead of the upcoming election in Comilla-10.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman is scheduled to visit Feni on Sunday to address a district BNP rally at Feni Pilot School field. During the event, he will meet families of eight people killed and several injured in the August 4, 2024, anti-discrimination student movement, which turned violent following attacks and shootings allegedly by Awami League activists. The BNP has formed a special team to ensure the safe transport, seating, and hospitality of the victims’ families and July movement participants.

Family members of the deceased have expressed their intention to demand justice from Tarique Rahman. Mahfuza Akter, mother of martyr Wakil Ahmed Shihab, said she would urge swift trials and ensure no accused are dropped from charge sheets. Nesar Ahmed, father of martyr Ishtiaq Ahmed Shraban, plans to ask what role the BNP would play in ensuring maximum punishment if it comes to power. Other families, including that of martyr Zakir Hossain, echoed similar demands for justice.

Lawyer Mejbah Uddin Bhuiyan, representing plaintiffs in 22 related cases, said all plaintiffs seek fair trials and have resisted attempts to exclude accused individuals from the cases.

Supporters of independent candidate Nahiduzzaman Nishad were attacked on Friday night, November 23, in the Kochua and Padumshahar areas of Saghata upazila, Gaibandha-5 constituency. Witnesses said the assault occurred around 9:30 p.m. while Nishad’s campaign workers were having tea after distributing election leaflets. A group of people reportedly attacked them with sticks, injuring several and damaging seven motorcycles. The injured were taken to Saghata Upazila Health Complex.

At nearly the same time, another group of Nishad’s supporters was holding a campaign meeting in a house in Padumshahar, where five motorcycles parked outside were completely vandalized, though no injuries were reported. Nishad, a former BNP district vice-president, alleged that BNP candidate Faruk Alam’s supporters, led by Saghata BNP member secretary Tulip, carried out the planned attack. He said he would file written complaints with Saghata police and the returning officer.

Judge Tanzir Hossain, responsible for the election inquiry and judicial committee of Gaibandha-5, confirmed awareness of the incident and said action would follow upon receiving a written complaint.

The Citizen Coalition has expressed concern over the participation of dual citizens in Bangladesh’s upcoming 13th parliamentary election, scheduled for February 12. In a statement signed by co-coordinator Fahim Mashroor on Saturday, the platform demanded that the Election Commission cancel the nominations of candidates found to hold dual citizenship after investigation. The group also urged the suspension of elections in constituencies where such allegations have newly emerged until inquiries are completed.

According to the statement, the coalition believes that proper, impartial, and strict enforcement of election laws is essential for a fair election. It cited a January 22 Transparency International press conference that revealed several candidates allegedly concealed information about foreign citizenship and overseas assets in their affidavits, which the coalition described as a clear violation of election law. Despite these allegations, the Election Commission reportedly approved their candidacies.

The Citizen Coalition warned that ignoring these issues could undermine the democratic progress achieved through national sacrifices and urged the Election Commission to act responsibly to preserve electoral integrity.

Beijing has launched an investigation into two of China’s highest-ranking military officials, marking the latest phase in President Xi Jinping’s campaign to consolidate control over the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). The Ministry of Defense announced that Central Military Commission (CMC) Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia and Joint Staff Chief Liu Zhenli are under investigation for “serious disciplinary and legal violations.” Their removal leaves the CMC with its fewest members in history, now comprising only Xi Jinping and Zhang Shengmin, the head of the military’s anti-corruption body.

The CMC is China’s top military decision-making body, responsible for strategy and operations. Analysts note that the probe underscores Xi’s tightening grip on the armed forces, continuing a years-long effort to ensure political loyalty within the PLA. While “disciplinary violations” often refer to corruption, such investigations have historically been used to eliminate political rivals. Researcher Tristan Tang of the Pacific Forum said the move highlights Xi’s strength and may also relate to inefficiencies in defense resource management and combat readiness.

The investigation could last months or years, with most accused officials typically detained, convicted, and stripped of their positions and party membership.

The National Citizen Party (NCP) has announced 238 campaign candidates across the country to promote a 'Yes' vote in the upcoming national referendum on election day reform. The announcement was made on Friday night at the party’s temporary central office by Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, chairman of the election management committee and party spokesperson. He said the candidates will campaign in districts and sub-districts alongside the Shapla Koli symbol and the 10-party electoral alliance, advocating for the 'Yes' position in the referendum. Although these candidates will not contest in the election, they will visit households to raise awareness about the referendum.

The NCP also declared a 12-day electoral march as part of its campaign strategy. The list of campaign candidates covers all eight administrative divisions of Bangladesh, including Rangpur, Rajshahi, Khulna, Barishal, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Sylhet, and Chattogram. The initiative aims to mobilize grassroots support for the referendum and strengthen coordination with allied parties under the 10-party electoral alliance.

The announcement marks a significant organizational effort by the NCP to influence public opinion on the proposed election day reform through direct voter engagement.