BNP Chairperson and Dhaka-17 candidate Tarique Rahman announced that at least 40 new playgrounds would be built across Dhaka if the BNP’s electoral symbol, the paddy sheaf, wins in the upcoming February 12 election. He made the announcement on Sunday during a campaign rally at ECB Square in Mirpur, Dhaka. Rahman said he kept his speech brief to avoid causing inconvenience to the public and emphasized his deep personal connection to the area, where he spent much of his life and family milestones.

Rahman stated that if the BNP forms the next government, the initiative would ensure open spaces for children to play and for residents, including elders and women, to walk and exercise. He also promised to widen a long-demanded local road to improve living conditions and traffic flow. Concluding his remarks, Rahman urged residents to vote for the paddy sheaf symbol and sought prayers for the opportunity to serve both his constituency and the entire nation.

The campaign event was part of Rahman’s outreach ahead of the February 12 polls in Dhaka-17 constituency.

National Citizen Party (NCP) spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan has mocked a statement by a Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) candidate who urged party activists to stop extortion until February 12. Bhuiyan made the remarks on Saturday during an election rally, questioning whether the statement implied that extortion would be acceptable after the election. He argued that such comments create confusion among the public and raise doubts about the sincerity of the political party involved.

Bhuiyan emphasized that extortion is always illegal and reprehensible, not something that can be temporarily prohibited. He urged all political parties to take a clear and responsible stance to maintain law and order during the election period and to combat crime consistently. Otherwise, he warned, public trust could be seriously undermined.

The controversy began after BNP candidate Sarwar Jamal Nizam from Chattogram-13 (Anwara and Karnaphuli) made the appeal during the inauguration of an election office on February 6. A 55-second video of his remarks spread on social media, sparking widespread discussion and criticism in local political circles.

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis has withdrawn its candidates from two constituencies in Narayanganj ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The party’s Amir, Allama Mamunul Haque, announced the decision on Saturday at an election rally in Fatullah. He declared support for Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Dr. Md. Iqbal Hossain in Narayanganj-3 (Siddhirganj-Sonargaon) and National Citizen Party (NCP) candidate Abdullah Al Amin in Narayanganj-4 (Fatullah). Khelafat Majlis nominees Shahjahan Shibli and Khondaker Anwar Hossain have stepped aside from their respective races.

Mamunul Haque explained that internal surveys showed Jamaat’s candidate in Narayanganj-3 had stronger prospects, while Abdullah Al Amin would contest as the unified candidate of the 11-party alliance in Narayanganj-4. He urged supporters to act with patience, tolerance, and loyalty in the interest of the broader coalition. The announcement was made in the presence of NCP’s Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, Khondaker Anwar Hossain, and Abdullah Al Amin.

The move consolidates alliance support in two key Narayanganj constituencies ahead of the upcoming national election.

Nahid Islam, convener of the National Citizens Party (NCP) and candidate for Dhaka-11, declared that his party would achieve victory on February 12. Speaking at an election rally in Badda on Sunday, he expressed confidence in success not only in his constituency but across Bangladesh. He called on voters to support the 11-party alliance, which he described as a coalition for forming the next government and leading the future of the country.

In his speech, Nahid Islam urged citizens to make Bangladesh free from occupation, dominance, and terrorism. He criticized another unnamed political party for allegedly planning to endanger the country and emphasized the need to defeat such plans. He also highlighted the lack of public facilities in Dhaka-11, including the absence of government hospitals and high schools, poor drainage, and widespread land grabbing.

Nahid Islam pledged to eliminate land grabbers’ syndicates, restore or compensate lost lands, and ensure equal access to civic amenities. He attributed the area’s underdevelopment to political causes and vowed to address economic disparities if elected.

Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury has called a full court meeting of all judges from both the Appellate and High Court Divisions of the Supreme Court. The meeting is scheduled to take place at 4 p.m. on Monday in the Supreme Court’s conference room.

According to the report, the agenda includes decisions on matters such as leave schedules, promotions, and approval of the annual calendar for subordinate courts. The meeting will also address several important administrative issues related to the Supreme Court Secretariat.

The gathering is expected to bring together all sitting judges to finalize key judicial and administrative decisions for the upcoming year, as indicated in the source.

Voting is underway in Japan’s interim election on Sunday, where Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi hopes to turn her early tenure’s momentum into a decisive win. Opinion polls suggest her ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its coalition partners are on track to secure around 310 of the 465 lower house seats, well above the 233 needed for a majority. Such a result would mark the LDP’s strongest performance since 2017. Analysts note that a sweeping victory could strain relations with China and unsettle Japan’s financial markets.

Takaichi, who became LDP leader in October, has gained popularity among young voters despite her roots in the party’s conservative wing. She has taken a tough stance on immigration, emphasizing strict screening to prevent entry by potential terrorists or spies and ensuring foreign residents meet tax and insurance obligations. Economically, she announced a $135 billion stimulus package to ease inflation and pledged to suspend consumer taxes on food items.

Japan’s public debt remains more than twice the size of its economy, with bond yields at record highs and the yen experiencing sharp fluctuations.

Jack Lang, former French culture minister, resigned as president of the Arab World Institute following revelations of his past contacts with Jeffrey Epstein and the launch of a financial investigation, France’s Foreign Ministry confirmed on Saturday. The country’s financial crimes prosecutors have opened a preliminary probe into Lang and his daughter Caroline for alleged laundering of aggravated tax-fraud proceeds related to suspected financial ties with Epstein. Lang, 86, was summoned by Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot for a meeting on Sunday after pressure mounted over the case.

French media reported that Lang had sought funds or favors from Epstein, while his daughter’s name appeared in files of an offshore company co-owned with the late financier. Caroline Lang, a film producer, resigned from her role as head of the Independent Production Union. Lang denied any knowledge of Epstein’s crimes and described the allegations as baseless, saying he faced the investigation with serenity.

The release of Epstein-related documents has triggered repercussions across Europe, prompting resignations and investigations involving public figures in the United Kingdom, Norway, Sweden, Slovakia, and several Baltic states.

Bangladesh is set to hold national elections on February 12, the first since student-led protests in 2024 forced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to flee the country following a violent crackdown on demonstrators. More than 127 million citizens are eligible to vote, and for the first time, about 15 million expatriates will be able to cast postal ballots. The caretaker government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, is overseeing the polls amid concerns about potential unrest.

The Awami League, Hasina’s former ruling party, has been banned as its leader and senior officials face criminal trials for their roles in the 2024 crackdown. Hasina was sentenced to death in absentia for ordering the killing of protesters, but India, where she has taken refuge, has not agreed to extradite her. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami are the main contenders, each leading multi-party coalitions. A total of 1,981 candidates are competing for 350 parliamentary seats.

Bangladesh’s elections have historically been marred by boycotts, violence, and allegations of rigging. The upcoming vote is being described as the country’s largest democratic exercise of the year.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to travel to the United States for discussions centered on Iran. His office announced the visit on Saturday night, just one day after high-level talks between the United States and Iran took place in Oman. Netanyahu will depart for Washington on Tuesday and meet U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday.

According to a statement from Netanyahu’s office, the prime minister believes that any agreement with Iran must include strict limitations on its ballistic missile program. He also insists that Iran’s support for proxy groups across the Middle East must be addressed in the negotiations. The statement reflects Israel’s concern that Iran’s missile program was reportedly not included in the ongoing U.S.-Iran discussions in Oman.

This will be Netanyahu’s seventh visit to the United States during Trump’s second term, underscoring the frequency of their diplomatic engagements over the past year.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman announced that Nahid Islam would be appointed as a minister if the 11-party alliance assumes power. He made the statement on Sunday at an election rally in the capital’s Badda area. The announcement was part of his address to supporters ahead of the upcoming national election.

During his speech, Dr. Rahman criticized a rival political party for what he described as contradictory actions—speaking against corruption while nominating loan defaulters. He argued that corruption cannot be eradicated by sheltering such individuals. He further stated that on February 12, the people would show a “red card” to extortionists and corrupt figures.

The remarks reflect Jamaat-e-Islami’s campaign focus on anti-corruption and accountability as the election approaches, with the party seeking to strengthen its position within the 11-party alliance.

Mohammad Fakhruddin Manik, the Jamaat-e-Islami candidate for the Feni-3 constituency, has been served a show-cause notice for allegedly violating the electoral code of conduct by using the title 'Dr.' before his name in campaign materials. The notice was issued on Saturday, February 7, by Joint District Judge Sajjatun Nesa, who heads the Election Inquiry and Judicial Committee. The notice stated that Manik used the title in leaflets, banners, and festoons despite not mentioning it in his election affidavit, which constitutes a breach of the Representation of the People Order, 1972.

In response, Fakhruddin Manik told Amader Desh that such notices are part of the election process and do not prove any wrongdoing. He claimed that the controversy over his title is politically motivated, alleging that opponents are spreading misinformation out of fear of his potential victory. Manik explained that he holds a Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery (BHMS) degree, which legally allows him to use the 'Dr.' title under the Bangladesh Homeopathic Education and Medical Council Act 2023.

He added that his credentials and registration number were submitted in his affidavit and that he plans to pursue legal action in higher courts against what he described as harassment and defamation.

Nahid Islam, the convener of the National Citizens Party (NCP), declared that his party would permanently eliminate land grabbers if it comes to power. He made the statement on Sunday at 11 a.m. during an election rally held in Badda, Dhaka. According to him, members of two political parties have alternately been involved in land grabbing in the capital.

The remarks came as part of NCP’s campaign activities ahead of upcoming elections. Nahid Islam’s comments highlighted his party’s stance against illegal land occupation and corruption in urban areas. The event was organized as part of his electoral outreach to voters in Dhaka.

Further details about the rally and the party’s broader policy proposals were not provided in the report.

Bangladesh has intensified administrative and security preparations ahead of the 13th National Parliament election and referendum. Starting Sunday, February 8, a total of 1,051 executive magistrates are being deployed across the country. Alongside them, additional members of the armed forces and law enforcement agencies have begun their duties, remaining active in electoral areas until February 14. According to the Election Commission, the army will stay deployed before and after the vote to ensure security.

Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Ma’sud stated that several coordination meetings have been held with security agencies, and all parties consider the overall law and order situation favorable for the election. He also confirmed that all ballot boxes have been distributed to district levels, with returning officers receiving them as part of final preparations.

A circular from the Home Ministry earlier announced that police, Border Guard Bangladesh, Ansar and VDP, and Coast Guard will be deployed to ensure a fair and peaceful election. In total, more than 970,000 security personnel, including members of the armed forces, will be on duty nationwide.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing one of his toughest weeks in office after senior Labour figure and diplomat Lord Peter Mandelson resigned following revelations of his past connection with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Mandelson, appointed by Starmer as ambassador to Washington, announced his departure from both his post and the Labour Party after new details emerged in the Epstein files, saying he wanted to avoid further embarrassment for the party.

The resignation has intensified internal unrest within Labour, with some members reportedly considering a leadership change. Starmer, who led Labour to a landslide victory in July 2024 promising stability after years of Conservative turmoil, has seen his popularity decline. Party rules make it difficult to remove a sitting leader quickly, but discussions are ongoing about possible mechanisms such as a confidence vote or coordinated pressure from senior figures.

Upcoming by-elections and local polls in Scotland, Wales, and England are seen as key tests for Starmer’s leadership. Poor results could heighten calls for his resignation, though potential challengers Wes Streeting and Angela Rayner are not yet ready to contest his position.

Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s Amir and Charmonai Pir Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim declared that the rule of what he called new tyrants and fascists will not survive the upcoming February 12 election. Speaking on Saturday evening at a campaign rally in Kalapara, Patuakhali-4 constituency, he said the election would mark the people’s victory against injustice, corruption, and misrule. The rally was organized in support of Islami Andolan’s candidate Professor Md. Mostafizur Rahman, symbolized by the hand fan.

Karim warned those who use fear and intimidation in politics to reflect on their actions. He compared current rulers to historical despots, saying their power would also collapse. Referring to the July uprising, he described it as a protest against 54 years of corruption and oppression, asserting that the demand for change arose from deep social grievances. He said Islami Andolan nominated only honest and people-friendly candidates.

The event drew a large crowd, with thousands joining a procession through Kalapara town before the rally, creating a festive atmosphere.