Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Mashud stated on Monday, January 26, that candidates who concealed information about loan defaults, dual citizenship, or other disqualifying issues but managed to contest the current election will face action if such concealment is proven after the vote. He made the remarks while speaking to journalists at his office.

Mashud emphasized that the Election Commission (EC) will not compromise on electoral transparency and that the overall election environment remains stable. He said the EC is not under any political pressure and expects a fair and peaceful voting process. He urged voters to go to polling centers without hesitation.

Responding to a question about the Jatiya Party’s participation, Mashud confirmed that the party cannot be excluded from the election since its registration remains valid under the law. He reiterated that the EC has ensured equal opportunities for all candidates and noted a positive change in the country’s political culture.

A coalition of 101 social, cultural, and political organizations affiliated with the platform July Oikya issued a joint statement on January 26, 2026, rejecting the verdict delivered by International Crimes Tribunal-1 in the Chankharpul murder case. The tribunal sentenced three senior police officers to death under command responsibility but gave lighter sentences of three, four, and six years to several police members, including constable Sujon, who directly fired on the crowd. The three officers sentenced to death remain fugitives.

The statement described the verdict as an insult to the six victims of the Chankharpul killings and expressed deep shock and anger. It alleged that Sujon fired indiscriminately at unarmed civilians without provocation, and that the tribunal’s decision to give him only three years in prison was a mockery of justice. The organizations demanded a review of the verdict and warned of launching strong movements if their demand was ignored.

The statement further held the interim government responsible for any future unrest if the authorities failed to reconsider the judgment.

Dhaka University authorities have issued a show-cause notice to Daksu executive member Sarbamitra Chakma after he was accused of forcing teenagers to perform squats by holding their ears at the university’s Physical Education Centre field. The notice was issued on Monday evening following student complaints, confirmed Assistant Proctor Saifuddin Ahmed, who said Chakma’s actions had raised questions about the university’s image. He was asked to submit a written explanation within 24 hours.

Earlier that day, Chakma announced his resignation from the Daksu executive committee through a Facebook post in the group ‘Dhaka University Students’ Parliament–2’. In the post, he claimed that outsiders had long been entering the field freely, leading to incidents of harassment and theft, and that the administration had failed to act despite repeated complaints. He said he confronted the outsiders to protect the campus environment and later apologized unconditionally for his behavior.

Daksu General Secretary S.M. Farhad stated that although Chakma announced his resignation online, no formal resignation letter had been submitted yet.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman visited the family of the late Kushtia district Ameer, Professor Abul Hashem, on Monday morning before attending an election rally. During the visit, he inquired about the family’s well-being, prayed for the departed leader’s soul, and wished patience for the bereaved relatives. He was accompanied by central executive member and Jessore-Kushtia regional director Mobarak Hossain, regional team member Professor Khondaker A.K.M. Ali Mohsin, acting district Ameer Abdul Gafur, and upazila Ameer Khondaker Rezaul Karim.

Professor Abul Hashem passed away on January 19 after suffering a heart attack while addressing a protest rally organized by Jamaat-e-Islami in Kushtia. He was 58 years old at the time of his death. The following day, two funeral prayers were held before his burial at Mirpur WAPDA graveyard. He is survived by his wife, a son, a daughter, and several relatives.

The visit by Dr. Rahman highlighted the party’s expression of solidarity and support for the family of the deceased district leader.

In Feni-3 constituency, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Vice Chairman and candidate Abdul Awal Mintoo met Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Dr. Fakhruddin Manik during election campaigning on Monday, January 26. The two rival candidates embraced each other at Kazirpol area of Purbochandrapur Union in Daganbhuiyan upazila, drawing attention from supporters and voters present at the scene.

During the meeting, Mintoo asked for prayers from Manik, who responded by addressing him as an elder brother and expressing mutual respect. Manik later said their long-standing cordial relationship would continue beyond the election, noting that they were contesting from different parties due to procedural reasons. The friendly gesture between the two candidates impressed onlookers, and a video of the moment quickly went viral on social media.

Mintoo was accompanied by local BNP leaders including his brother Akbar Hossain and businessman Rafiqul Islam, while Manik was joined by Jamaat’s Dhaka South Shura member Mesbah Uddin Said and other party activists.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said his party intends to provide work opportunities to all capable citizens rather than unemployment allowances. Speaking at an eleven-party election rally at Shahid Abrar Fahad Stadium in Kushtia around 11:45 a.m. on Monday, he addressed extortionists directly, saying they too would be given work and urged them to abandon such activities. He emphasized that the party does not want to create a 'sea of unemployed' through allowances.

Dr. Rahman highlighted that around 60 rice mills operate in Kushtia, from which private levies of about 5,000 taka per truck are collected, causing distress to truck owners and traders. He called on those involved in extortion and illegal occupation to return to honest livelihoods, assuring that Jamaat seeks to build a Bangladesh where every man and woman can earn with dignity.

The rally, attended by 60,000 to 70,000 people, also featured speeches from leaders of allied parties including Khelafat Majlish, JAGPA, and Islami Chhatra Shibir, as part of the eleven-party electoral alliance.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman has called on party leaders, activists, and voters to remain at polling centers on election day to ensure proper vote counting. Speaking virtually at an election rally in Hatiya, Noakhali, on Monday, he emphasized that voters should not leave after casting their ballots but stay to monitor the process closely.

Rahman alleged that there were conspiracies to obstruct the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election and urged everyone to stay alert. He said that the people’s right to vote and freedom of speech had previously been taken away, and although those responsible had left the country, new groups were attempting to disrupt the election. He called for vigilance to protect the electoral process.

He further stressed unity among all citizens, regardless of religion, to build the nation through collective effort, describing Bangladesh as the shared home and ultimate destination for all its people.

Former joint secretary of the UK BNP, Azmal Hossain Chowdhury Javed, was seriously injured in an attack on Sunday evening while returning from an election campaign in support of BNP candidate Nasir Uddin Chowdhury for the Sunamganj-2 constituency. The incident occurred on the way back to Dirai when activists from another BNP faction allegedly attacked him. Eyewitnesses said 15–20 supporters of rival nomination aspirant Tahir Raihan Chowdhury Pavel, including Mohiuddin Milad, Abu Hasan Chowdhury Saju, and Faisal, carried out the assault. Javed sustained severe eye injuries and was first treated at Dirai Upazila Health Complex before being referred to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital for advanced care.

Local sources indicated that tension had long persisted between the Nasir and Pavel groups in Dirai. Javed, once a nomination aspirant himself, had accepted the party’s decision to nominate Nasir Uddin Chowdhury and had been actively campaigning for him following instructions from the BNP high command.

The attack underscores ongoing internal conflicts within the BNP’s local leadership in Sunamganj-2 ahead of the election.

The High Court has granted six months’ bail to Jewel Hasan Saddam, president of the banned Bagerhat Sadar Upazila Chhatra League. The order was issued on Monday by a division bench of the High Court’s criminal division after hearing his bail petition. According to the report, the decision was made primarily on humanitarian grounds.

Lawyers informed that Saddam recently lost his wife and nine-month-old child, which influenced the court’s consideration in granting bail. The report did not specify the charges against him or the details of the case but emphasized the compassionate reasoning behind the court’s decision.

The ruling provides temporary relief to Saddam for six months, though further legal proceedings are expected following the expiration of the bail period.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has strongly condemned the attack on National Citizens Party (NCP) candidate Ariful Islam Adib in Dhaka-18 constituency. The party’s Assistant Secretary General and head of its central publicity and media department, Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, issued a statement to the media on Monday expressing protest over the incident.

According to the statement, the attack occurred on the morning of January 26 when Adib and his supporters were conducting campaign activities in Dumni Nurpara under Khilkhet Police Station. Jamaat alleged that activists of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) carried out the sudden assault, injuring several NCP workers. Zubair described the attack as an unjust and terrorist act, calling it a severe violation of democratic and political norms.

He urged authorities to identify and bring the perpetrators to justice and emphasized that ensuring a peaceful election environment is the responsibility of the administration and the Election Commission. The statement warned that the public would not tolerate any negligence in this regard.

Dhaka Metropolitan North BNP has issued a 24-hour show-cause notice to Didar Ahmed Molla, accused of attacking Ariful Islam Abid, the 11-party alliance (NCP) candidate for Dhaka-18. The incident occurred on Monday morning in Dumni Nurpara under Khilkhet Police Station during Abid’s election campaign. BNP candidate S M Jahangir Hossain disclosed the party’s action to reporters at a preparatory meeting in Uttara’s Eidgah ground, held ahead of BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman’s visit.

Hossain said he informed the party after hearing about the incident and that the accused had been formally asked to explain his actions. He stated that BNP believes in peaceful coexistence and will not engage in provocation. He added that the party is not involved in the attack and that a probe committee will be formed. If anyone is found guilty, disciplinary measures will follow. Hossain also assured that there would be no conflict over votes and that both candidates could campaign together before the public.

He further noted that BNP is a large organization and that any allegations arising within the party will be investigated and addressed accordingly.

Iran’s Chief Justice Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei has declared that those who instigated the country’s recent violent protests will face punishment without leniency. Speaking on January 26, 2026, he said that the judiciary will bring the instigators to justice as soon as possible, responding to public demands for accountability. According to Geo News, Ejei emphasized that those involved in inciting riots, terrorism, and violence during the anti-government demonstrations would be prosecuted swiftly.

He added that investigations have already begun to identify individuals who provoked unrest, engaged in armed attacks, killings, arson, and destruction. The chief justice stated that the judicial process would proceed without any flexibility toward those responsible for such acts. The protests began on December 28 in response to rising living costs and unbearable inflation across Iran.

Ejei also noted that the Iranian government has managed to calm tensions following the unrest, indicating a partial restoration of stability after weeks of demonstrations.

The July Revolutionary Student Mass staged a protest march in Nilphamari on Monday, January 26, demanding the arrest of individuals they described as Awami League-linked terrorists. The demonstration began at the town’s Bara Bazar area, moved through major streets, and concluded with a brief rally at the DC intersection.

Speakers at the rally included district leaders from the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and the National Youth Power. They alleged that those accused in a murder case and in the August 4 attack on anti-discrimination activists were moving freely despite being members of the banned Awami League and its affiliates. The student leaders warned that these individuals could create unrest ahead of the upcoming national parliamentary election and urged authorities to arrest them immediately.

The protest reflected ongoing tensions in Nilphamari over accountability for past violence and concerns about potential election-related disorder.

U.S. President Donald Trump invited India to join his newly launched ‘Peace Board’, but New Delhi has yet to formally participate. The board was inaugurated during the 56th World Economic Forum in Davos, where Trump, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and 20 other world leaders signed the founding charter. India’s absence drew attention, with analysts suggesting that concerns over internationalizing the Kashmir issue are driving its hesitation.

According to reports from The Dawn and BBC Hindi, Indian policymakers fear that joining the board could increase global scrutiny over Indian-administered Kashmir. Trump said the board’s initial goal is to secure a lasting ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza and oversee an interim administration. However, some Indian commentators worry that Trump aims to position the board as an alternative to the United Nations, potentially bringing disputed regions like Kashmir under its purview.

Former Indian diplomats noted that while the UN Security Council approved the board’s mandate until December 2027, Trump’s broader peace plan has no fixed duration and could expand beyond Gaza, complicating India’s decision-making.

Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir’s Jahangirnagar University (JU) branch announced its new committee for the 2026 session. Philosophy Department student Mostafizur Rahman from the 47th batch was elected president, while English Department student and JAKSU General Secretary Mazharul Islam from the 48th batch was nominated as secretary. The announcement was made Monday through the organization’s official Facebook page.

According to the statement, the JU branch held a general assembly of members where voting took place using ballot papers signed by the central president, Nurul Islam. After counting the votes, Nurul Islam declared Mostafizur Rahman as the elected president and administered his oath. Based on members’ consultation, the newly elected president nominated Mazharul Islam as branch secretary. The event was conducted by central arts and culture secretary Hafez Abu Musa, with the central president attending as chief guest.

The new leadership marks the start of the 2026 session for the JU branch, following the completion of its internal election and nomination process.