The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) has deployed 56 long-term observers across all 64 districts of Bangladesh. The observers began their fieldwork on Saturday morning after departing from Dhaka, marking the official start of the mission’s activities. The announcement was made by Deputy Chief Observer Inta Lase at a press conference held at Hotel Intercontinental in Dhaka. The mission operates under an invitation from the Government of Bangladesh, with Chief Observer Ivars Ijabs, a member of the European Parliament, having inaugurated the mission on January 11.

According to EU officials, the observers will work in two-member teams to monitor key aspects of the electoral process at the regional level. They will meet voters, election officials, candidates, political party representatives, civil society observers, and youth activists in both urban and rural areas. The mission includes participants from EU member states as well as Canada, Norway, and Switzerland. Before deployment, the observers received detailed briefings on Bangladesh’s political, legal, and media environment.

The EU EOM will release its preliminary findings on February 14 in Dhaka, followed by a final report with recommendations after the election process concludes. The mission emphasizes neutrality and non-interference, adhering to international election observation principles adopted under UN auspices in 2005.

The central committee of the United People's Democratic Front (Democratic) has dismissed as false and baseless the social media reports claiming the party’s dissolution. At a press conference held on Saturday morning at the party office in Madhupur, Khagrachhari, central leaders clarified that the organization remains active and functional. Central General Secretary Amal Kanti Chakma stated that party president Shyamal Kanti Chakma (Taru) and former general secretary Miton Chakma left Khagrachhari with 20–25 followers after being accused of corruption, embezzlement, and other violations of party rules.

Amal Kanti Chakma further alleged that Shyamal Kanti Chakma and his followers took shelter with the Santu Larma-led Jana Samhati Samiti and later issued a fake statement on social media announcing the party’s dissolution. He emphasized that such a declaration was unconstitutional and made without the consent of most central committee members. The committee also denied allegations of maintaining any armed group.

Organizing Secretary Amar Jyoti Chakma said the departure of the president would not affect party activities, which will continue under acting president Samiran Chakma. The party also stated it would not endorse any candidate in upcoming elections.

Dhaka-13 parliamentary candidate and Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish leader Maulana Mamunul Haque has submitted a written explanation to the Election Commission (EC) after receiving a show-cause notice for allegedly violating the electoral code of conduct. He appeared at the EC headquarters in Agargaon, Dhaka, on Saturday, January 17, 2026, to provide his statement. The commission will now review his explanation before deciding on further legal action.

The EC had issued the notice on January 14, citing that Mamunul Haque distributed leaflets with his followers in front of the EC building on January 13, an act reported by several media outlets. According to the commission, such activities within three weeks of the February 12 election day constitute a clear breach of clauses 3 and 18 of the “Code of Conduct for Political Parties and Candidates, 2025.”

After submitting his response, Mamunul Haque told reporters that he had indeed distributed leaflets urging a “yes” vote in a referendum but denied conducting any campaign activities for his constituency, claiming his actions were misrepresented.

Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) President Dr. Colonel (Retd.) Oli Ahmed Bir Bikram has strongly condemned and protested the knife attack on July fighters Hasnat and Mahin in Chattogram. The assault took place at midnight on January 16 in Chandanaish upazila, reportedly after a press conference and human chain were organized against Jasim Bahini, a group linked to a cashier of Benazir and an accused in the July student murder case. The condemnation was issued in a statement sent to the media on Saturday.

In his statement, Colonel Oli said that the associates of the fallen fascist government have re-emerged and that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) must take responsibility. He accused the BNP of sheltering individuals loyal to Hasina and oppressing innocent citizens. He urged the BNP to expel such individuals if it truly respects the July fighters.

Oli Ahmed added that attacking the July fighters is an insult to those who fought against fascism in Bangladesh and sacrificed their lives to ensure freedom and dignity for the people.

The Election Commission has cancelled the nomination of BNP-endorsed candidate Manjurul Ahsan Munshi for the Cumilla-4 (Debidwar) constituency in the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. The decision was announced on Saturday, January 17, at 4 p.m. following a hearing held at the commission’s auditorium in the basement of its Agargaon headquarters in Dhaka.

According to commission sources, both BNP candidate Manjurul Ahsan Munshi and NCP candidate Hasnat Abdullah had filed appeals challenging each other’s nomination validity. After reviewing the appeals, the Election Commission declared Munshi’s nomination invalid while upholding the validity of Hasnat Abdullah’s candidacy. Abdullah is contesting from the same seat under a 10-party electoral alliance.

The ruling clarifies the candidate lineup for Cumilla-4, where the NCP’s Hasnat Abdullah will now represent the alliance in the upcoming national election.

The central committee of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has dissolved its organizational committees in Galachipa and Dashmina upazilas under Patuakhali-3 constituency. The decision, announced on Saturday through a statement signed by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, was sent to the district BNP leadership. The move came after local units allegedly failed to work in favor of Gonodhikar Parishad president and former DUCSU VP Nurul Haque Nur, whom the BNP had decided to support in the upcoming national election instead of fielding its own candidate.

According to party sources, some local BNP leaders delayed implementing the central decision and were reportedly working for independent candidate Hasan Mamun, a recently expelled member of the BNP executive committee. In response, the central leadership dissolved both upazila committees and warned members to maintain organizational discipline. Hasan Mamun was also summoned to the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office but did not respond.

Local leaders acknowledged receiving the dissolution notice, while some defended their stance, saying they remained aligned with Hasan Mamun despite the central directive.

Russian President Vladimir Putin held a telephone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to discuss the current situation in Iran. During the call, Pezeshkian accused the United States and Israel of inciting violence in recent protests, which he said had turned from peaceful demonstrations into violent unrest. He emphasized that Iran’s domestic policies are people-centered and aimed at addressing citizens’ legitimate demands and challenges caused by sanctions. Pezeshkian also noted that large public gatherings across the country had thwarted what he described as rioters’ conspiracies.

Putin stated that Russia is closely monitoring developments in Iran and acknowledged that long-term sanctions have created economic and social difficulties there. According to a Kremlin statement, Pezeshkian briefed Putin on the government’s ongoing efforts to stabilize the situation and reduce tensions. Both leaders agreed that emerging issues in Iran and the wider Middle East should be resolved through political and diplomatic means.

The Kremlin added that Putin and Pezeshkian also agreed to further strengthen the strategic, mutually committed relationship between Russia and Iran across various sectors.

Syria has officially declared the Kurdish language as a national language through a decree issued by President Ahmed Al-Shara. The decree also recognizes the national rights of the Kurdish community and restores their citizenship, which had been revoked following the controversial 1962 census. Additionally, Damascus has declared Nowruz, the Kurdish New Year, as an official public holiday. The decree will take effect upon publication in the official gazette.

According to the decree, Kurdish citizens are described as an integral part of the Syrian people, and their cultural and linguistic identity is recognized as a vital component of Syria’s unified and diverse national identity. The government pledged to protect cultural and linguistic diversity and to ensure Kurdish citizens’ rights to preserve their heritage, arts, and language development within the framework of national sovereignty.

The decree further allows Kurdish to be taught in public and private schools in areas with significant Kurdish populations, either as an optional subject or as part of cultural and educational activities.

U.S. President Donald Trump publicly thanked Iran for suspending the executions of detained protesters. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social on Friday, Trump said Tehran had halted the death sentences of hundreds of protesters who were scheduled to be executed on Thursday. He expressed gratitude to Iran’s leadership for the move.

Trump dismissed claims that Gulf countries or Israel had influenced him to refrain from attacking Iran, saying instead that Iran’s actions had shaped his decision not to strike. Speaking to reporters while leaving the White House for Florida over the weekend, he said no one persuaded him and that the cancellation of executions had a major impact. The White House confirmed on Thursday that Iranian authorities had suspended 800 planned executions and stated that the situation was being closely monitored.

Trump has repeatedly voiced support for Iranian protesters, urging them earlier in the week to continue demonstrations and seize state institutions, promising that help was on the way.

Four candidates from the Gaibandha-3 (Sadullapur-Palashbari) constituency have regained their eligibility to contest in Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliamentary Election after their appeals were accepted by the Election Commission. The appeals were heard on January 11, 12, and 15, 2026, at the Election Commission building, where the decisions were finalized. The reinstated candidates are Manjurul Haque of Janata Dal, Abdullah Adil Nannu of the Communist Party of Bangladesh, and independent candidates S.M. Khademul Islam Khudi and Azizur Rahman.

Their nomination papers had earlier been rejected by the Gaibandha returning officer due to alleged inconsistencies during the scrutiny process. Following their appeals, the Election Commission declared their nominations valid, bringing the total number of candidates in the constituency to ten. The approval list was signed by Arifur Rahman, Senior Assistant Secretary of the EC Secretariat’s Law-2 branch.

According to the election schedule, the last date for withdrawal of candidacy is January 20, symbol allocation will take place on January 21, and voting is scheduled for February 12, 2026, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. across 145 polling centers with 506,185 registered voters.

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on countries that oppose American control over Greenland. Speaking at a rural healthcare event at the White House on Friday, Trump warned that he could take similar action to the tariffs previously imposed on the pharmaceutical industry. He stated that if allies do not support the United States in taking control of Greenland, tariffs could be applied against them, emphasizing that the island is essential for U.S. national security.

Trump reiterated that Greenland’s strategic location and vast mineral resources make it vital to U.S. interests. He did not rule out the possibility of using force to secure control of the island but mentioned tariffs for the first time in this context. The president also said he was discussing the issue with NATO, stressing that without Greenland, there would be a significant gap in U.S. national security.

The remarks mark an escalation in Trump’s rhetoric regarding Greenland, linking economic pressure with geopolitical objectives.

The Election Commission (EC) has declared the nomination of independent candidate Dr. Gobinda Chandra Pramanik valid for the Gopalganj-3 (Kotalipara-Tungipara) constituency in the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The decision was made on Friday, January 16, during an appeal hearing held at the EC auditorium in Agargaon, Dhaka. His nomination had earlier been canceled by the returning officer over allegations of forged supporter signatures submitted with his nomination papers.

Following the EC’s decision, Dr. Pramanik told journalists that the allegations against him were baseless and politically motivated. He said the returning officer’s decision to cancel his nomination was unjustified, and the appeal hearing proved the accusations false. He expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating that truth had prevailed and reaffirmed his confidence in the Election Commission.

Dr. Pramanik also alleged that his rival candidate had influenced some government officials to create obstacles to his candidacy. He said he now plans to continue his campaign with full energy to fight for the people's rights in his constituency.

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced several members of the new Gaza Peace Board, which will oversee the interim administration in the war-torn territory. The seven-member founding executive board includes U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, and World Bank President Ajay Banga. Trump will chair the 15-member board himself, describing it as the most prestigious of its kind.

The board stems from Trump’s 20-point peace plan introduced in late 2025, which led to an initial ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas and a prisoner exchange. The plan calls for an international “Board of Peace” to supervise a Palestinian technocratic body managing Gaza’s governance during the transition period. However, the White House has not yet detailed the board’s specific responsibilities.

Residents of Gaza have expressed skepticism about the recently announced second-phase ceasefire, citing unfulfilled promises from the first stage of the agreement.

Reports from multiple Indian outlets surrounding Bangladesh’s upcoming parliamentary election show a consistent narrative portraying Jamaat-e-Islami as a destabilizing and extremist force. Publications such as Firstpost, Indian Express, Anandabazar Patrika, and Republic Bangla have framed Jamaat’s political resurgence as a security threat, while downplaying its student wing’s electoral victories. Analysts cited in the report argue that this coverage reflects a deliberate attempt to isolate Jamaat politically and influence Bangladesh’s internal dynamics.

Diplomatic observers note that following the fall of the Awami League, India is eager to rebuild influence in Dhaka by aligning with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). However, Delhi reportedly views Jamaat as a “red line” and seeks to pressure BNP to sever ties with it. Indian media’s portrayal of Jamaat as “Pakistan-leaning” and “anti-India” is seen as part of this strategy.

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

Interim government adviser for finance and the Ministry of Science and Technology, Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed, described the upcoming February 12 election as highly critical. Speaking on Friday evening at a voter awareness event organized by the Sirajganj district administration, he said both domestic and foreign observers were watching the election’s transparency closely. The event was held at the Sirajganj Collectorate grounds as part of a campaign promoting the referendum and voter participation.

Dr. Ahmed emphasized the importance of spreading the achievements of the July Revolution and urged attendees to counter negative attitudes with positivity. He expressed hope that future administrations would not overturn previous initiatives and encouraged citizens to support the “yes” vote to strengthen both themselves and the next government.

The meeting was chaired by Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner Dr. A. N. M. Bazrul Rashid and attended by senior officials, including the Cabinet Secretary, district administrators, and ministry secretaries. Cultural performances preceded the speeches.