Ahead of the national election, concerns have intensified in Bangladesh over the absence of a level playing field for candidates. The issue gained urgency after an attack on Sharif Osman Hadi, a parliamentary candidate and spokesperson of Inquilab Mancha, raising questions about the state’s ability to guarantee safety and fairness. The article argues that ensuring equal opportunity for all candidates is not just an ideal but a measure of democratic maturity.

The commentary identifies three essential pillars for a fair election: equality of security, equality of resources, and impartial enforcement of law. It warns that when some candidates enjoy administrative protection and state resources while others face insecurity and financial constraints, democracy itself is undermined. The lack of neutrality erodes public trust, discourages voters, and diminishes the symbolic value of democracy both domestically and internationally.

The article concludes that the Election Commission and administration must act decisively to dismantle networks of violence, ensure candidate safety, and maintain visible neutrality. A fair election, it stresses, is not merely a change of government but the foundation of democratic survival.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh approved 18 appeals and rejected 17 during the seventh day of hearings on appeals filed against returning officers’ decisions for the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The session, held on Friday afternoon at the EC building in Agargaon, Dhaka, was chaired by Chief Election Commissioner A M M Nasir Uddin. A total of 43 appeals were heard, with four kept pending for verdicts.

According to the EC, the appeals included challenges to both rejected and accepted nomination papers. Of the total, 18 appeals against rejected nominations were approved, while 17 similar appeals were dismissed. Additionally, four appeals challenging accepted nominations were also dismissed. The hearings are scheduled to continue on Saturday and Sunday, covering appeals numbered 511 to 645 and any pending cases.

The EC reported that 645 appeals were filed in total against returning officers’ decisions. On January 4, returning officers had declared 1,842 of 2,568 nomination papers valid and 723 invalid across 300 constituencies.

Several Indian news outlets have been accused of running a coordinated anti-Jamaat-e-Islami campaign ahead of Bangladesh’s upcoming parliamentary election. Reports from Firstpost, Indian Express, Anandabazar Patrika, and Republic Bangla allegedly portray Jamaat’s potential political rise as a threat to regional stability and security. Analysts cited in the report say these outlets claim Jamaat seeks to destabilize Bangladesh to delay the election, while ignoring the group’s recent student wing victories in university polls.

The report contrasts Indian media narratives with those of international outlets such as BBC and Al Jazeera, which describe Jamaat’s political rehabilitation as part of a democratic process. Diplomats and analysts suggest India’s media strategy aligns with Delhi’s broader political interests following the fall of the Awami League, aiming to pressure the BNP to distance itself from Jamaat. They argue that Indian media’s portrayal of Jamaat as extremist or anti-India serves this purpose.

Observers warn that if such media campaigns continue, they could strain Bangladesh-India relations and fuel anti-India sentiment among the Bangladeshi public.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman will begin a nationwide election campaign tour on January 22 ahead of the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. According to the party’s central publicity department, the tour will start in Dhaka city, where he will conduct public outreach and address an election rally in his constituency, Dhaka-15.

The campaign will continue in northern Bangladesh on January 23 and 24. On January 23, Dr. Rahman is scheduled to attend rallies in Dinajpur’s Gor-e-Shaheed Maidan at 2 p.m., in Thakurgaon at 4 p.m., and in Rangpur city in the evening as the chief guest. The following morning, January 24, he will visit the grave of Abu Saeed, a student of Begum Rokeya University and the first martyr of the July uprising, before addressing a public meeting in Palashbari, Gaibandha at 10 a.m.

The announcement marks the start of Jamaat-e-Islami’s formal campaign activities for the 13th parliamentary election, with Dr. Rahman leading the party’s outreach efforts across key northern districts.

Shafik Rehman, editor of the newspaper Jaijaidin, has invited United States President Donald Trump to visit Bangladesh. He extended the invitation on Friday during a memorial event organized by civil society in remembrance of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. Rehman said that it is now the era of Donald Trump and personally invited him to come to Bangladesh.

During his speech, Rehman expressed his belief that Khaleda Zia might have lived longer had she not passed away on November 7. He urged young voters to reflect on the messages delivered at the event before casting their first votes. He also noted that the gathering was taking place at a critical time and warned that any untoward incident could delay the election scheduled for February 12. Rehman said that Dr. Yunus had guaranteed that the upcoming election would be joyful.

He further advised citizens to question candidates about the stability of essential commodity prices, law and order, and the safety of bank deposits before voting.

Hasnat Abdullah, the chief organizer for the southern region of the National Citizens Party (NCP), met with the family of Shaheed Adil, who was killed during the July uprising in Narayanganj. The meeting took place on Friday afternoon in Delpara, Fatullah upazila. During the visit, Abdullah called on young voters in the Narayanganj-4 (Sadar) constituency to cast 'Yes' votes in the forthcoming referendum.

Addressing the gathering, Abdullah said that the goal of the NCP is to build a corruption- and extortion-free Bangladesh. He emphasized that the party seeks a state where the balance of power is maintained and citizens’ dignity and democratic values are upheld. He stated that voting 'Yes' is essential to create a new Bangladesh based on these principles.

NCP’s nominated candidate for Narayanganj-4, Advocate Abdullah Al Amin, was also present. Together with local party leaders and activists, they campaigned across the area in favor of the 'Yes' vote, urging the youth to take the lead in shaping a new political direction.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman called on everyone to show respect and patience in a Facebook post published on Friday night, January 16, 2026. In his message, he emphasized that patience is the greatest test and prayed for divine guidance to help people maintain it. He also wrote that showing respect to others would lead to receiving greater respect from Allah.

The post quickly drew significant attention online, receiving over 10,000 comments within 50 minutes. Among the responses, one user named Kharid Saifullah Mohiuddin remarked that although many were pleased, both sides had suffered losses while a third party benefited. Another commenter, Md. Enamul Islam, expressed disappointment that a collective effort had not ended well.

The post reflects ongoing discussions among supporters and observers of Islamic political groups in Bangladesh, with some expressing concern about unity and cooperation among such parties.

National Citizen Party (NCP) spokesperson and election committee chairman Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan has stated that law enforcement agencies are not sufficiently active or effective ahead of the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election and the reform referendum, both scheduled for February 12. He made the remarks on Friday afternoon while attending a winter clothing distribution event at Mahuttuli Government Primary School in Old Dhaka.

During his speech, Asif Mahmud said that juvenile gangs and criminals are still moving freely in public. He demanded swift punishment for those involved in the killing of Osman Hadi and for attacks on political leaders. The event also featured NCP’s nominated candidate for Dhaka-7 constituency, Tarek A. Adel, who joined Mahmud in distributing winter clothes as part of a humanitarian initiative.

The comments come amid preparations for the national election and referendum, highlighting concerns about public safety and the effectiveness of law enforcement in maintaining order during the electoral period.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Nayeb-e-Ameer and Rangpur-2 (Badarganj-Taraganj) parliamentary candidate ATM Azharul Islam said the party’s goal is to build a welfare-oriented state. He stated that implementing such policies would eliminate poverty and unemployment. He made these remarks on Friday afternoon at a courtyard meeting in Lakkhanpur, Ramnathpur Union of Badarganj upazila, presided over by union Jamaat secretary Abdul Halim, with other local leaders also speaking.

Azharul Islam further said Bangladesh is not a poor country but has been weakened by large-scale money laundering abroad, creating “Begumpara” for corrupt individuals. He urged voters to cast their ballots freely for honest and qualified candidates, emphasizing the need to vote for the “balance scale” symbol and support the “yes” side in the referendum to uphold democracy and recognize the sacrifices of July fighters.

He accused the previous Awami government of holding citizens hostage and claimed that without student and public movements, the country would have been completely destroyed. He warned that any attempt to obstruct voting would face strong public resistance.

A human chain was organized in Jurain, Dhaka, by Jamaat-e-Islami’s Kadamtali Thana unit on Friday to demand an end to the ongoing gas crisis. Several hundred local men and women participated in the demonstration. Speaking at the event, Syed Zainul Abedin, a member of the Dhaka South Jamaat executive council, alleged that the gas shortage across the country was artificial and caused by a syndicate of dishonest traders. He claimed that the government failed to take strict action against them due to internal and external political influences.

Abedin further stated that Jamaat-e-Islami had repeatedly warned the interim government after August 5, 2024, to identify and prosecute those responsible for corruption and lawlessness. He accused certain political groups of protecting wrongdoers for personal gain and called on the youth to reject corrupt and violent leadership. On the issue of the upcoming referendum, he urged citizens to vote “yes” to prevent authoritarian rule and ensure judicial independence.

He added that a “yes” victory in the referendum would limit any individual’s tenure as prime minister to ten years, which he said would help prevent dictatorship and uphold justice in Bangladesh.

A two-day training program on election journalism was organized by the Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB) in collaboration with the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) ahead of the upcoming 13th National Parliament election and a referendum on reforms. The event began on Thursday and concluded on Friday, with 50 journalists from various Dhaka-based media outlets participating. Certificates were distributed to participants at the end of the program.

The training, held for the second time, aimed to strengthen professionalism and reporting skills among journalists. Sessions covered election laws and administrative structures, ethics of election reporting, fact-checking, countering rumors and misinformation, and ensuring both physical and digital safety for journalists. PIB Director General Faruq Wasif emphasized that journalists must demonstrate professionalism and prioritize truth, neutrality, and public interest to maintain public trust during elections.

Organizers stated that such continuous training initiatives would help ensure responsible, professional, and impartial journalism during the upcoming national election.

Interim government adviser for law, justice and parliamentary affairs Professor Dr. Asif Nazrul stated that no one spoke on behalf of former Prime Minister and BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia when she was imprisoned and ill. He made the remarks on Friday, January 16, at a citizens’ memorial meeting held at the South Plaza of the National Parliament Building in memory of Khaleda Zia.

Nazrul added that gratitude toward the July coup leaders had made Khaleda Zia known to everyone while another figure was sidelined. He emphasized that for Bangladesh to prosper, Khaleda Zia’s ideals must be internalized. At the same event, writer and researcher Professor Dr. Mahbub Ullah said that people would remember Khaleda Zia for her sacrifice, honesty, and endurance. He added that if her party and the nation uphold her teachings, they will survive; otherwise, they will not.

Mahbub Ullah further remarked that Khaleda Zia’s death did not mark the end of time or the future, as her ideals would remain the driving force of Bangladesh’s future.

Islami Andolan Bangladesh, led by the Charmonai Pir, has withdrawn from the 11-party electoral alliance headed by Jamaat-e-Islami. The announcement was made on Friday by Islami Andolan’s joint secretary general and spokesperson, Maulana Gazi Ataur Rahman, who raised several allegations against Jamaat. In response, Jamaat clarified its position through Assistant Secretary General and head of the central publicity department, Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, stating that no party was disrespected or pressured in seat-sharing or political discussions.

Zubair explained that decisions were made transparently based on multiple surveys assessing field realities, organizational strength, candidate acceptability, and rival positions. He rejected claims that Jamaat sought to impose Sharia law, saying the party operates within Bangladesh’s constitution and legal framework. He also clarified that the alliance was not a formal coalition but an electoral coordination among reform-seeking parties without a permanent structure.

Zubair expressed regret over a missed meeting due to a leader’s illness and said Jamaat remains open to dialogue. He added that 253 candidates have been announced so far, with discussions ongoing for the remaining seats, and the party plans to contest all 300 constituencies.

BNP candidate for Chattogram-4, Aslam Chowdhury, announced that his party will work to improve the living standards of transport workers. Speaking on Friday at a meeting with transport workers in the Bhatiari Jalil Station area of Sitakunda, he said that workers in this sector face high risks, long working hours, and often do not receive fair wages. The event was organized by the Road and Highway Goods Transport Workers Federation.

Chowdhury stated that transport workers endure significant hardships, staying away from their families for the sake of the country’s import and export activities, yet they lack job security and adequate pay. He also noted widespread disorder in the transport sector and said workers often suffer due to various vested interests. He pledged that if BNP comes to power, it will prioritize the welfare of transport workers and improve their quality of life, adding that party chairman Tarique Rahman is committed to this cause.

The meeting was conducted by the federation’s general secretary Zainal Khan Laden and presided over by acting president Shahjahan, with several other federation leaders present.

Professor Dr. F.M. Siddiqui, head of the medical team of former BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, has demanded that all medical records related to her treatment at Bangladesh Medical University (BMU) be legally seized. He made the call on Friday afternoon at a citizens’ memorial meeting for the late former prime minister held at the South Plaza of the National Parliament building. Siddiqui also urged a thorough investigation into the doctors, treatment process, and related documents from that period.

He stated that Khaleda Zia was admitted to Evercare Hospital on April 27, 2021, with COVID-19 complications, after which his team took over her care. Upon examination, they found she had liver cirrhosis and had been prescribed methotrexate for arthritis, which he claimed worsened her liver condition. Siddiqui alleged that government-appointed doctors failed to stop the drug or conduct necessary liver tests, calling it deliberate negligence.

He further proposed forming a high-powered legal committee to investigate three issues: the competence of the government medical board, evidence of negligence by attending doctors, and why her personal physicians were not allowed to participate in her treatment.