Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam announced that Bangladesh’s national parliamentary election will be held on February 12 across all 300 constituencies. He made the statement at a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka on January 21. The Election Commission confirmed that complexities regarding Pabna-1 and Pabna-2 constituencies have been resolved, allowing voting in all seats. Ballot paper printing is scheduled to begin at midnight on January 21.

According to the press secretary, the government held a high-level emergency meeting led by the Chief Adviser to review election security. The Chief Adviser instructed authorities to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply during voting and to recover stolen weapons. Law enforcement will use 25,500 body-worn cameras linked to a security app for quick response. Around 150,000 police, 100,000 army personnel, and members from other forces including Navy, Air Force, Ansar, BGB, RAB, and Fire Service will be deployed, along with 500 drones.

A total of 1,842 valid candidates will contest the election. Sixty-nine returning officers, 657 judicial magistrates, and 1,047 executive magistrates will oversee the process, coordinated through the “Election Security” app.

Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir organized a protest march in Feni on Wednesday to oppose the suspension of the ShakSU election. The demonstration, arranged by the organization’s Feni city branch, began in front of the central Jame Mosque and proceeded through Doel Square on Trunk Road and the Model Police Station area before concluding with a gathering at the Shaheed Minar.

During the event, leaders from the district and city branches of Chhatra Shibir delivered brief speeches. They demanded the immediate implementation of the ShakSU election, expressing dissatisfaction over its postponement.

The protest reflected the organization’s continued call for student representation through the ShakSU body, though no official response to their demand was mentioned in the report.

NCP member secretary Akhtar Hossain has called for ensuring the safety of all candidates during the election campaign, warning that no one should face a fate similar to that of Hadi. He made the remarks on Wednesday at a press conference, referring to the recent killing of a RAB officer during an operation in Sitakunda’s Jungle Salimpur area, which he said reflected a deterioration in the country’s law and order situation.

Akhtar urged the government to take measures so that no illegal weapons remain in circulation, no conflicts occur, and no voters or candidates suffer harm. His comments came as political parties prepare for election activities under heightened security concerns.

The statement underscores growing anxiety over political violence and the need for stronger law enforcement to ensure a peaceful electoral environment.

Interim Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus said the government has entered a 'phased test' ahead of the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election and the referendum on the July National Charter. He made the remarks on Wednesday at a meeting held at the Chief Adviser’s Office in Tejgaon, Dhaka. Yunus stated that the process begins now and will conclude on February 12, emphasizing that the Election Commission’s directives are the highest authority and must be followed collectively.

During the meeting, the Chief Adviser said the Ministry of Home Affairs will play the lead role in maintaining law and order during the election period, expressing confidence that a fair election is possible under current conditions. Election Commission Secretary Akhtar Ahmed reported that 51 of 59 registered political parties will participate, and observers from 26 countries have been invited, with the European Union expected to send about 300 observers.

Army Chief Waker-Uz-Zaman informed that 3,619 weapons were looted during the August 2024 uprising, of which 2,259 have been recovered. Home Affairs Adviser Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury added that armed forces members will act as law enforcement and may enter polling centers if necessary.

Overseas Bangladeshi voters registered through the ‘Postal Vote BD’ app can begin casting their postal ballots from 5 p.m. on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, for the upcoming 13th National Parliament election and referendum. According to the Election Commission (EC), voters can follow the prescribed procedure on the commission’s website or the app to select candidates and symbols for their respective constituencies. Completed postal ballots must reach the returning officer’s office in Bangladesh by January 25.

The EC stated that the ‘Postal Vote BD’ mobile app includes necessary security features to prevent unauthorized voting and ensure full confidentiality of the voting process. Salim Ahmad Khan, team leader of the OCV-SDI project, said the commission has already sent postal ballots to 767,028 expatriate voters in 121 countries. In total, 1,533,683 voters have registered through the app for the election and referendum.

The initiative marks a significant step in enabling expatriate participation in Bangladesh’s electoral process through digital and postal means, with strict deadlines and security measures in place.

The press secretary to the chief adviser of the interim government, Shafiqul Alam, announced that the results of the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election may be delayed. He made the statement following a law and order meeting on election issues chaired by the chief adviser on Wednesday. Alam explained that the delay could occur because both the parliamentary election and a referendum will be held simultaneously, along with the counting of postal ballots.

According to the press secretary, several new measures have been introduced this year to ensure a thorough and accurate vote count, which may take additional time. He also confirmed that the election will be held in all 300 constituencies on February 12, and ballot paper printing will begin at midnight on January 21. The Election Commission secretary has resolved the complications regarding Pabna-1 and Pabna-2 constituencies, ensuring full participation across the country.

The announcement aims to preempt rumors that often arise when vote counting takes longer than expected, emphasizing transparency and procedural integrity in the upcoming election process.

Former state minister for information and member of Bangladesh’s constitution drafting committee, Professor Abu Sayeed, has officially joined the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). The announcement was made on Wednesday at the BNP chairperson’s political office in Gulshan, Dhaka, where he presented flowers to the party’s secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. A day earlier, Sayeed had met with BNP chairperson Tarique Rahman.

Professor Abu Sayeed previously served as a member of parliament from Pabna-1 in 1973 and 1996 and held the position of state minister for information under Sheikh Hasina’s government in 1996. Over the years, he contested elections under various political banners, including BAKSAL, Awami League, as an independent, and as a Gono Forum candidate in 2018.

Explaining his decision, Sayeed said that given the rise of extremism, he believes BNP is the only party that should be advanced. He also confirmed submitting his nomination papers as an independent candidate for the upcoming national election from Pabna-1, adding that he will remain in the race if the party instructs him to do so.

Students of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) have boycotted all classes and examinations in protest against the suspension of the university’s central student union (ShakSU) election. They announced that they would not participate in any academic activities until the Chamber Judge Court grants permission for the election to proceed. The boycott began on Tuesday night through separate statements issued by students from different departments, following continuous demonstrations and sit-in programs on campus.

At a press conference held on Wednesday noon in front of the central library building, student leaders expressed frustration over the postponement. Delowar Hasan Shishir, vice president candidate from a Shibir-supported panel, said that the election was supposed to be held the previous day but was halted after two candidates and one voter filed a writ petition in the High Court. He claimed this deprived about 9,000 students of their democratic voting rights and demanded a prompt ruling in favor of the students. Independent general secretary candidate Faisal Hossain urged the court to exempt the ShakSU election from restrictions related to the national election period.

Students warned that if the court does not rule in their favor, they will announce a complete campus shutdown.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has called for a fear-free and fair election that reflects public opinion and allows voters to cast ballots without intimidation. He made the remarks on Wednesday while visiting injured party activists at Ibn Sina Hospital in Dhaka’s Kalyanpur. According to Jamaat, sixteen of its activists were injured in two separate attacks allegedly carried out by BNP supporters in Mirpur’s Pirerbag area on Tuesday.

Rahman condemned the incidents, claiming that BNP members assaulted and detained female Jamaat activists before law enforcement intervened. He urged authorities to ensure equal opportunities for all parties and to take legal action against those involved in violence. He emphasized that no group has the right to create mobs or disrupt campaigns, and that political differences should be resolved through lawful and peaceful means.

The Jamaat chief reiterated his party’s commitment to a corruption-free and just society, urging all candidates to respect voters’ rights. He warned that any attempt to undermine citizens’ voting rights would be met with a strong response through the ballot box.

A total of 1,967 candidates will contest in Bangladesh’s upcoming parliamentary election after 305 contenders withdrew their nominations on the final day for withdrawal, according to the Election Commission. The Commission will allocate election symbols to candidates today, with registered parties receiving their official symbols and independents choosing from approved options. Campaigning will officially begin tomorrow and continue until the morning of February 10, ahead of the February 12 parliamentary election and national referendum, both to be held on the same day.

Among the remaining candidates are 290 from the BNP, 216 from Jamaat-e-Islami, 259 from Islami Andolan Bangladesh, 196 from Jatiya Party, 30 from the National Citizens Party, and 92 from Gano Adhikar Parishad. Over 300 independents are also contesting, including several BNP dissidents and expelled Awami League leader Abdul Latif Siddique. The election will feature 49 registered political parties, while 11 others, including the suspended Awami League, are not participating.

The government has launched extensive campaigns urging citizens to vote “yes” in the referendum. For the first time, expatriates and certain domestic voters can cast ballots via online postal registration, with more than 1.53 million already registered.

In the 13th parliamentary election, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami did not withdraw its nominations in two constituencies of Narsingdi district, despite a decision by the 10-party alliance it leads. The party’s candidates are district secretary general Upadhyaksha Amjad Hossain in Narsingdi-2 (Palash) and Shibpur upazila amir Mostafizur Rahman Kawsar in Narsingdi-3 (Shibpur). The alliance had nominated Golam Sarwar Tushar of the NCP for Narsingdi-2 and Maulana Rakibul Islam of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis for Narsingdi-3. January 20 was the final date for nomination withdrawal.

Jamaat candidates claimed they were fully prepared to comply with the party’s directive to withdraw but were prevented by local activists who locked their homes and confined them, making withdrawal impossible. Narsingdi district Jamaat’s publicity secretary Advocate Amirul Islam Amir confirmed that the party had instructed both candidates to withdraw but that leaders faced resistance from local activists when they tried to enforce the decision.

NCP activists expressed anger, accusing Jamaat of violating the alliance’s collective decision. The situation has created tension within the 10-party coalition over candidate coordination in Narsingdi.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair has rejected allegations that his party engaged women in early election campaigning, calling the claims completely false. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday at the Election Training Institute in Agargaon, Dhaka, after symbol allocation for constituencies Dhaka-15 and Dhaka-13, he said all campaign materials were removed immediately after the election schedule was announced, without waiting for the Election Commission’s directive.

Zubair alleged that false propaganda was being spread to damage the unity of the ten-party alliance that includes Jamaat-e-Islami. He further claimed that a particular group had incited attacks on their female voters and expressed hope that such incidents would not recur. He also reported that party workers had been attacked in various areas and that the matter had been conveyed to the returning officer.

He emphasized that the upcoming national election is highly significant and that a concurrent referendum would give legal basis to long-standing reform processes. Zubair expressed hope for a fair, peaceful, and secure election.

The High Court has dismissed a writ petition filed by BNP candidate Manjurul Ahsan Munshi challenging the Election Commission’s decision regarding his nomination for the Comilla-4 constituency. The order was delivered on Wednesday afternoon by a bench led by Justice Rajik Al Jalil. Following the dismissal, lawyers confirmed that Munshi will not be able to contest in the election.

Earlier, on January 1, Munshi had filed the writ petition seeking to overturn the Election Commission’s decision that invalidated his nomination. The Election Commission had rejected his nomination appeal on January 17. The writ petition also sought a stay on the Commission’s January 17 decision.

During the hearing, Advocate Ahsanul Karim, Barrister Hamidul Misbah, and Advocate Saifullah Al Mamun represented Munshi, while Barrister Ehsan Abdullah Siddiqi, Advocate Zahirul Islam Musa, and Advocate Mujahidul Islam Shaheen appeared for Hasnat Abdullah.

Justice Farah Mahbub of the Supreme Court has been appointed as the new Chairperson of the Bangladesh Judicial Service Commission. The appointment was made through a government notification issued by the Ministry of Law on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, under the directive of the President.

Before this appointment, Justice Farah Mahbub was promoted to the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on March 24, 2025, and her appointment took effect after the oath-taking on March 25. She is the fifth woman to serve as a justice in the Appellate Division. Justice Mahbub began her legal career in 1992 at the district court level after completing her LLB and LLM from the University of Dhaka. She became an advocate of the High Court in 1994 and of the Appellate Division in 2002.

She was appointed as an additional judge of the High Court on August 23, 2004, and became a permanent judge in 2006. Justice Farah Mahbub is the daughter of former minister and prominent lawyer Advocate Mahbubur Rahman.

Election symbols have been distributed among 31 candidates contesting in five parliamentary constituencies of Jamalpur district. The allocation took place on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, under the supervision of Jamalpur Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer Mohammad Yusuf Ali. Candidates and their representatives were present during the event. Following the withdrawal of three candidates on Tuesday, a total of 31 contenders, including independents and party nominees, will compete in the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election.

In Jamalpur-1 (Dewanganj-Bakshiganj), four candidates received symbols, while Jamalpur-2 (Islampur) also has four contenders. Jamalpur-3 (Melandah-Madaripur) will see nine candidates, Jamalpur-4 (Sarishabari) six, and Jamalpur-5 (Sadar) eight. The candidates represent various political parties including BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Jatiya Party, Communist Party of Bangladesh, and several others, along with independent candidates.

According to the report, campaigning for the 13th National Parliamentary Election in Jamalpur is set to begin from Thursday, following the symbol distribution.