BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman is set to visit Chattogram on January 25, 2026, after more than two decades. According to the announced schedule, he will attend a BNP-organized rally at the city’s Polo Ground as the chief guest. His last visit to Chattogram was on May 6, 2005, when he served as the party’s senior joint secretary general. This will be his first visit to the port city since being declared BNP chairperson on January 9, 2026.

BNP leaders and activists in Chattogram are preparing extensively for his arrival, expressing strong enthusiasm and optimism. Separate plans have been made by the city and district BNP units to welcome him. The party expects a gathering of around 1.5 million people at the rally, where Rahman is anticipated to deliver a message of unity to strengthen the party’s campaign for the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. Three subcommittees—discipline, publicity, and reception—have been formed to coordinate the event.

Local BNP leaders, including Chattogram City Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain, said the city is eagerly awaiting Rahman’s visit, expecting the day to turn into a festive occasion for residents.

Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus has called on all political parties and citizens to work together to ensure a successful national election and referendum scheduled for February 12. He made the remarks during a meeting with a four-member delegation from Jamaat-e-Islami, led by party chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, at the state guesthouse Jamuna on Sunday evening. Yunus emphasized that regardless of victory or defeat, everyone must unite for the country’s interest and the success of the polls.

According to a press release from the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing, Yunus announced several measures to ensure transparency and fairness, including a hotline for complaints, installation of CCTV cameras at most polling centers, and body cameras for officials at high-risk locations. He assured that any urgent election-related issues would be promptly referred to the Election Commission. Jamaat leaders informed that their full-scale campaign would begin on January 22, alongside their ongoing “Yes” campaign for the referendum.

Yunus also clarified that government campaigning in favor of the “Yes” vote was legally permissible, stating that the interim government’s duty was to support reform efforts emerging from the people’s movement.

Advocate Saifur Rahman, the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami nominated candidate for the Chattogram-1 (Mirsharai) parliamentary seat, has publicly sought financial assistance to cover his election expenses. He made the appeal through a Facebook live session and a written post, citing the Election Commission’s rule that allows a candidate to spend a maximum of 10 taka per voter. Based on the total number of voters in his constituency, he said his maximum permissible expenditure limit has been set accordingly.

Rahman stated that he does not intend to spend beyond the legal limit and emphasized the significant costs involved in voter outreach, campaigning, and public engagement. He mentioned that several well-wishers have already expressed interest in providing moral and financial support. Those wishing to contribute legally and transparently were invited to participate.

To ensure transparency, Rahman shared his Sonali Bank Mirsharai branch account number and personal bKash and Nagad mobile banking details, promising to update transactions regularly. His post, made four days earlier, drew attention from netizens after it began circulating online.

Health and Family Welfare Adviser Nurjahan Begum has called on citizens to vote 'Yes' in the upcoming national referendum, describing it as a step toward realizing the nation’s collective dreams. She made the remarks on Sunday afternoon after inspecting the 'Yes Vote Campaign Vehicle' at the Natore District Collectorate premises.

Begum said Bangladesh achieved independence in 1971 but social inequality, once driven by western groups, still persists and has even grown. Referring to the mass movement of 2024, she recalled that around 14,000 young people were injured, 32 lost limbs, and 22 lost their eyesight. She questioned whether such sacrifices had brought the expected fair and equal society envisioned after independence.

She emphasized that government officials must remain neutral and ensure a festive, transparent voting environment. Begum warned that any attempts at misconduct would be captured by CCTV cameras. Following the inspection, she held a meeting with district-level officials about the upcoming Referendum-26, attended by senior health and administrative officers.

Kamaruzzaman Hira, a member and former joint convener of Titas Upazila BNP in Cumilla-2 (Homna-Titas) constituency, warned that independent and Jamaat activists would not be allowed near polling centers. His remarks came during a doa and milad mahfil held on Saturday afternoon at Char Kumaria Bazar in Satani Union, organized by the local BNP and affiliated organizations to pray for the late Khaleda Zia. A video of his speech, lasting about three minutes and seventeen seconds, later spread on social media.

In the video, Hira described the Char Kumaria center as a BNP stronghold since 1991 and expressed confidence in winning from the area on January 12. He also voiced support for a proposal by Samsul Haque regarding four polling centers and praised BNP candidate Principal Selim Bhuiyan, predicting his success. Bhuiyan, the BNP-nominated candidate for Cumilla-2 and a central executive committee member, later told journalists that Hira’s comments were entirely personal and not endorsed by the party.

Local voters in Titas urged the administration and law enforcement agencies to ensure a free, fair, and impartial election.

The Election Commission (EC) has issued separate show-cause notices to Nahid Islam, convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP), and Nasiruddin Patwari, the NCP candidate for Dhaka-8 constituency, for alleged violations of the electoral code of conduct ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The notices, signed by Returning Officer and Dhaka Divisional Commissioner Sharaf Uddin Ahmad Chowdhury on Sunday, January 18, 2026, cited the display of large color billboards in Dhaka-11 and Dhaka-8 constituencies featuring campaign slogans and candidate images.

According to the EC, the actions contravened Rule 18 of the Political Party and Candidate Conduct Rules 2025, which prohibits any form of election campaigning more than three weeks before the polling date. The candidates were instructed to remove all billboards by 9:30 a.m. on January 19 and to submit written explanations by 11:00 a.m. the same day at the Returning Officer’s office.

The 13th National Parliamentary Election and referendum are scheduled to be held on February 12, 2026, under the supervision of the Election Commission.

The Election Commission has validated the nomination of Sharaf Uddin Azad Sohel, vice-president of Ramgati Upazila Awami League, as an independent candidate for the 13th National Parliamentary Election in the Lakshmipur-4 (Ramgati-Kamalnagar) constituency. His nomination was initially rejected by the district returning officer, S.M. Mehedi Hasan, due to inconsistencies in one percent of voter slips. Following an appeal, the Chief Election Commission found the voter support authentic and reinstated his candidacy.

The decision has sparked anger among July Movement activists and local BNP members, who accused Sohel of past involvement in violence, vote manipulation, and misuse of political influence. July Mancha’s joint convener Abdus Sobhan alleged that Sohel led attacks on students and citizens during the July movement and used his loyalists to intimidate opponents. BNP leaders claimed his supporters vandalized their offices and destroyed posters of party leaders.

Assistant Returning Officer Nilufa Yasmin Nipa confirmed that Sohel collected his nomination form locally but submitted it at the district level, and attempts to contact the district returning officer for comment were unsuccessful.

The Rural Electrification Board (REB) will distribute leaflets titled 'Yes' to its 37.2 million customers ahead of the upcoming referendum. The announcement was made on Sunday, January 18, during a meeting between REB Chairman Major General S M Ziaul Alam and Professor Ali Riaz, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser, at the latter’s office. Special Assistant Monir Haidar was also present at the meeting.

According to a press release issued by Senior Information Officer Mahbubur Rahman Tuhin from the Department of Information, the leaflets will promote support for change in the forthcoming referendum. The initiative reflects REB’s involvement in disseminating information related to the national vote.

No further details were provided regarding the distribution timeline or the specific content of the leaflets beyond their title and purpose.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A.M.M. Nasir Uddin stated that no bias was shown during the appeal hearings against decisions made by returning officers. He made the remarks on Sunday, January 18, 2026, at the Election Building after nine consecutive days of hearings. The CEC emphasized that the Election Commission had also waived the requirement for independent candidates to gather signatures from one percent of voters, aiming to ensure broader participation in the upcoming election.

Nasir Uddin acknowledged that some might criticize the Commission’s decisions but reiterated that all judgments were made impartially by him and his team. He expressed appreciation for the cooperation received during the hearings and hoped for continued support in the future. Election Commissioner Abul Fazl Md. Sanaullah added that the Commission reluctantly allowed some loan defaulters to contest, as permitted by law.

The CEC’s remarks highlight the Commission’s intent to promote inclusivity and transparency in the electoral process while addressing concerns about fairness and legal compliance.

BNP Chairperson’s adviser and chief coordinator of the Dhaka-17 election campaign committee, Bir Muktijoddha Abdus Salam, has said that the upcoming election is not merely a political contest but a decisive event for restoring democracy and determining the country’s future. He made the remarks on Sunday at the campaign headquarters in Banani during a meeting with the Bangladesh Nationalist Cooperative Party.

During the event, Salam urged party activists to fulfill their assigned responsibilities properly, emphasizing that only through dedicated work could they ensure the election of their leader, Tarique Rahman. He also called on all campaigners in Dhaka-17 to strengthen their efforts and act responsibly in the run-up to the polls.

The meeting was attended by BNP Chairperson’s adviser Nazimuddin Alam, assistant information secretary Shamimur Rahman, Nur Afroze Jyoti, Bir Muktijoddha Lutfur Rahman, and other party leaders and activists.

At a Sunday morning dialogue titled 'Judicial Independence and Rule of Law' organized by the Center for Governance Studies at Sirdap Auditorium in Dhaka, International Crimes Tribunal Chief Prosecutor Tazul Islam cautioned against using the term 'mob' to describe revolutionary movements. He said that equating the fall of Bastille with street looters would be inappropriate and warned that any attempt to subtly question the legitimacy of the recent revolution would be unacceptable. He emphasized that while criminal acts must be suppressed firmly, efforts to undermine revolutionary achievements should not be tolerated.

After delivering his remarks, Tazul Islam left the event. Following his departure, Ruhin Hossain Prince, former general secretary of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), described the Chief Prosecutor’s comments as a 'threat'. Prince argued that advocating for the rule of law while simultaneously inciting mobs was contradictory and unacceptable in Bangladesh.

The exchange highlighted differing interpretations of the revolution’s portrayal and the boundaries of acceptable political discourse in the context of Bangladesh’s evolving governance landscape.

The Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) and Executive Magistrate of Sarail, Abu Bakar Sarkar, has filed a petition with the Senior Civil Judge Court seeking legal action against Barrister Rumin Farhana, an independent candidate for the Brahmanbaria-2 constituency. The petition, submitted on January 18, 2026, alleges that a public meeting was organized in support of Rumin Farhana in violation of the electoral code of conduct.

According to the petition, the event organizer, Jewel Mia, was fined 40,000 taka by an Executive Magistrate from the District Commissioner’s office. The complaint also accuses Rumin Farhana of threatening an on-duty Executive Magistrate and obstructing judicial proceedings, which were described as clear breaches of election regulations. The UNO requested the court to take necessary legal measures in response.

The UNO further stated that earlier, on January 11, 2026, Rumin Farhana’s supporter Ashiqur Rahman had been fined 5,000 taka for a similar violation of the electoral code.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Nayeb-e-Ameer Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher has alleged that the country’s administration is gradually leaning toward a specific political party. Speaking to journalists on Sunday night, January 18, 2026, after a meeting with Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus at the state guesthouse Jamuna, he warned that if this trend continues, public confidence in a free and fair election will erode. He also said the Election Commission would not be able to avoid responsibility if the principle of equality in the electoral field is violated.

Dr. Taher claimed that administrative officials across the country are showing visible bias toward the BNP, particularly among SPs and DCs who are also serving as returning officers. He said Jamaat has prepared a list of such officials but has not yet filed a written complaint. He further alleged that the government’s recent provision of extra security and protocol for a top leader of one party breaches electoral neutrality.

Taher stated that Jamaat has drawn the Chief Adviser’s attention to these issues and requested his intervention if the Election Commission fails to act effectively.

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen paid a courtesy call on National Security Adviser Dr. Khilur Rahman on Sunday at the Chief Adviser’s Office in Dhaka. According to the press wing, the meeting took place in a cordial atmosphere and covered discussions on the integrated management and restoration of the Teesta River and the proposed Bangladesh-China Friendship Hospital.

Both sides exchanged views on issues of mutual interest and reaffirmed the long-standing friendship and development cooperation between Bangladesh and China. The Chinese ambassador stated that he would visit the Teesta project area and reiterated China’s commitment to completing the ongoing technical assessment quickly. He also conveyed his government’s continued support for Bangladesh’s democratic transition and extended best wishes for the upcoming national election.

The two parties expressed satisfaction with the positive progress in bilateral relations and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation for mutual benefit.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has questioned the transparency of several activities of the Election Commission (EC), alleging that the commission has shown bias in many cases. He warned that such behavior could hinder a fair election but expressed optimism that a credible election is still possible under the current commission if existing flaws are quickly resolved. Fakhrul made these remarks after meeting the Chief Election Commissioner on Sunday, January 18, at 4:45 p.m.

He claimed that the postal ballots sent to voters were faulty and designed to favor a particular party, demanding immediate supply of correct symbol-marked ballot papers. Fakhrul also criticized the collection of voters’ NID, mobile, and bKash numbers, expressing doubts about the purpose behind it. He alleged that campaign rules were being violated through one-sided promotion and that voter transfers in parts of Dhaka were being done deliberately.

Calling on the EC to act, Fakhrul urged investigations against biased officials and demanded equal opportunities for all parties. He reiterated that a fair election is possible if the commission identifies and corrects its shortcomings and proves its neutrality.