BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman declared that the people will not allow any form of vote rigging in the upcoming February 12 election. He made the statement on Tuesday night at an election rally in Bhawal Rajbari field, Gazipur, while returning from Mymensingh to Dhaka. Rahman called on voters to reach polling centers early, perform morning prayers there, and remain alert to prevent any pre-poll manipulation. He emphasized that citizens must protect their voting rights, which he said had been violated over the past 15 to 16 years.

Highlighting Gazipur’s role in the 2024 movement, Rahman praised the city’s contribution to the struggle for democracy and independence. He recalled his childhood memories in Gazipur and urged residents to support the BNP’s “sheaf of paddy” symbol. During the rally, he introduced BNP candidates for Gazipur’s five constituencies and sought votes for them.

Rahman also outlined development plans for Gazipur if BNP candidates win, including new industries, affordable housing for workers, family cards for women, daycare centers, flyover construction, canal excavation, and farmer cards. He concluded the day with another rally in Uttara, promising local infrastructure improvements.

Newly appointed US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent Christensen stated that the United States does not support any particular political party but stands with the people of Bangladesh. He made the remarks on Wednesday after meeting Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M Nasir Uddin at the Election Commission office in Agargaon, Dhaka. Christensen said the US is ready to work with whichever government is elected and expressed keen interest in the upcoming national election scheduled for February 12.

The ambassador emphasized that only the people of Bangladesh have the exclusive right to determine the outcome of their election. Referring to his meeting with the Chief Adviser last week, Christensen said he was assured that the election would be festive and that citizens would be able to exercise their voting rights freely. He expressed hope for a joyful and participatory election.

Christensen also appreciated the Election Commission’s preparations, describing them as commendable, and reaffirmed that Washington is committed to working with representatives who receive the people’s mandate.

Hasnat Abdullah, the chief organizer of the NCP’s southern region, stated that Mirza Abbas used to attend court wearing a burqa about one and a half years ago. He made this remark on the night of January 27 during an NCP yard meeting held at Gunai Ghar Shaktala in Debidwar, Comilla, where he was the chief guest.

During his speech, Abdullah also criticized those who, according to him, had remained silent despite sacrifices made by activists such as Abu Bakr and July martyr Mainuddin. He said that the reasons behind their struggles and the fight against fascism are no longer being discussed.

The remarks came during a protest meeting organized in response to an attack on NCP candidate Nasir Uddin Patowary in the Dhaka-8 constituency, highlighting ongoing political tensions surrounding the election campaign.

India’s Rajya Sabha has expressed condolences over the death of former Bangladesh Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. A condolence motion was introduced in the Indian Parliament on Wednesday to honor her long political career and contributions to South Asian politics.

According to parliamentary sources, both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha will pay tribute to Khaleda Zia, with members observing a brief moment of silence in recognition of her influence as a prominent Bangladeshi political leader. Khaleda Zia served multiple terms as Bangladesh’s Prime Minister and played a significant role in shaping the country’s political structure over several decades.

The tribute in the Indian Parliament is described as part of a constitutional and cultural tradition of honoring influential leaders from neighboring countries whose political lives have had a meaningful impact on regional politics.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was killed on Wednesday morning in a plane crash while traveling from Mumbai to Baramati. The small aircraft carrying him went down near Baramati airport as it attempted to land, resulting in the deaths of five people, including Pawar. Preliminary reports suggest that the victims may include the pilot and members of his security team. The crash occurred around an hour after the plane took off from Mumbai at approximately 8 a.m.

Images and videos from the site showed wreckage scattered across the area, with fire and smoke visible as ambulances and rescue teams arrived quickly. Injured individuals were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine whether mechanical failure or weather conditions contributed to the crash.

Pawar had been en route to attend four major public meetings in Baramati ahead of local government elections. His sudden death has cast a shadow of grief over Maharashtra’s political community, with leaders and organizations expressing deep condolences.

The Election Inquiry and Judicial Officer has issued a show-cause notice to BNP candidate Hafiz Ibrahim from Bhola-2 (Daulatkhan-Borhanuddin) constituency for allegedly violating the electoral code of conduct. The notice, signed by District Civil Judge Md. Suman Hossain on Tuesday, instructs Ibrahim to respond by January 29 either in person or through an authorized representative.

According to the notice, the allegation was filed by Md. Nur Islam on behalf of Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Maulana Fazlul Karim. The complaint claims that on the evening of January 25, supporters of the BNP candidate allegedly attacked and intimidated Jamaat activists on their way to the party office, which constitutes a clear breach of the 13th parliamentary election code of conduct.

The notice further states that Ibrahim must explain why legal action should not be recommended to the Election Commission. This is the first instance in the district where a candidate has been served such a notice.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said that cultural activists will be at the forefront of the party’s democratic movement and that the newly launched campaign song will touch people’s hearts. He made the remarks on Tuesday at the Banani Club in Dhaka during the inauguration of the viral ‘Dhaner Shish’ election song, which he believes will inspire renewed enthusiasm among the public ahead of the upcoming election.

Rizvi emphasized that throughout history, cultural workers have led political struggles, noting that songs written during times of oppression became voices of protest even beyond Bangladesh’s borders. He praised the song’s creators, including composer Ethun Babu and singer Moushumi, expressing confidence that their work captures the emotional power of the BNP’s ‘Dhaner Shish’ symbol. He also highlighted the role of literature, music, and poetry in social transformation, citing artists such as Kazi Nazrul Islam and Salil Chowdhury.

Rizvi expressed hope that the campaign song will win the hearts of voters, strengthen the democratic movement, and encourage citizens to assert their rights through voting.

NCP spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan issued a strong warning against fascism during a rally at Cumilla Town Hall field on Tuesday evening, January 27, 2026. He condemned an alleged attack on Nasir Uddin Patowary by Chhatra Dal activists and said that if any group behaves like a fascist government, they will face similar consequences. Asif declared that the people will not tolerate oppression.

He reiterated his earlier proposal to form a Cumilla Division following a mass uprising, emphasizing that it should be named after Cumilla and implemented through an upper house meeting. Asif urged citizens to vote “yes” in the upcoming referendum regardless of symbol and said that while opposition parties faced repression under the Awami League government, the situation has now changed and people will no longer remain silent.

Asif also criticized delays in constructing the Cumilla City Corporation building, alleging political interference, and pledged voting rights from age 16 and job guarantees for youth. He accused the BNP of spreading false propaganda about fake family card distribution.

Mahdi Amin, adviser to BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman and spokesperson for the party’s election management committee, criticized the behavior of Nasiruddin Patwari, the NCP candidate for Dhaka-8, alleging that he began campaigning before the official period and displayed arrogance and sensationalism. In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Amin said Patwari’s remarks and actions aimed to attract attention through controversy.

Referring to a recent egg-throwing incident involving Patwari at Habibullah Bahar College, Amin described it as unfortunate but questioned the immediate accusation by NCP convener Nahid Islam that BNP supporters were behind it. He cited the college authorities’ statement that Patwari had not been invited and that ordinary students had prevented his entry. Amin argued that linking Tarique Rahman’s name to incidents without proof reflected a fascist political culture reminiscent of past authoritarian practices.

He urged all parties to act responsibly to prevent the election from turning into an irrational spectacle, emphasizing the need for awareness and restraint during the campaign period.

A ten-party alliance organized a large-scale election showdown in support of Jamaat-e-Islami–nominated candidate Advocate Alfaruk Abdul Latif in the Nilphamari-2 constituency. The event took place on Tuesday afternoon, beginning at DC Mor and proceeding through the town’s main roads before concluding at Krishifarm Shaheed Rubel Square. The procession covered approximately five kilometers, ending with speeches from several political figures.

Speakers at the rally included Advocate Alfaruk Abdul Latif, Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union Vice President Mostakur Rahman Zahid, district Jamaat executive member and freedom fighter Moniruzzaman Montu, city Jamaat chief Professor Anwarul Islam, and assistant secretary Advocate Anisur Rahman Azad. The event demonstrated coordinated support from the ten-party alliance for the Jamaat candidate ahead of the upcoming election.

The large turnout and organized procession highlighted the alliance’s efforts to mobilize voters in Nilphamari-2, signaling intensified campaign activity in the constituency.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has issued detailed instructions on the cancellation of postal ballots for the upcoming national election scheduled on February 12, 2026. Deputy Secretary Mohammad Monir Hossain sent a directive to all returning officers specifying that ballots will be invalidated if they lack a declaration form, voter signature, or contain marks on multiple symbols. Ballots with unclear markings, no markings, or symbols other than tick or cross will also be rejected.

The EC further clarified that postal ballots arriving after the start of counting or affected by court-ordered candidate list changes will not be included in the count. Invalid ballots must be sealed in designated envelopes, with totals recorded in the official result statement. Additionally, ballots invalidated due to duplicate or unscanned QR codes must be stored separately and accounted for.

A total of 1.533 million voters, including government employees, prisoners, law enforcement members, and expatriates, have registered to vote by postal ballot in this election.

The government has promoted 118 joint secretaries to the rank of additional secretary under the Ministry of Public Administration. The promotion order was issued on Tuesday night, signed by Deputy Secretary Mohammad Rafiqul Haque on behalf of the President. According to ministry officials, the promoted officers belong to the 20th batch, with 118 selected out of 407 eligible officers.

The official notification stated that if any officer has already changed their workplace, they must submit their joining letter mentioning the current office name and address. It also noted that the authorities reserve the right to amend or cancel the order if any adverse information about a promoted officer is later found. The newly promoted officials are instructed to submit their joining letters directly to the Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration or via email.

The order takes immediate effect, marking a significant administrative reshuffle within the public administration structure.

A Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami member in Purbadhala, Netrokona, has alleged that his business establishment was attacked, vandalized, and looted late Monday night. The incident reportedly occurred around midnight when an armed group entered the premises of Suruzzaman’s ‘Nawroz Computer Training and Coaching Center’ and adjacent grocery shop ‘Family Shop’. Jamaat leaders held a press conference on Tuesday afternoon at their upazila office on Roushan Ara Road, demanding the arrest of those responsible.

According to the written statement read by district Jamaat assistant secretary and local parliamentary candidate Mashum Mostafa, the attackers looted computers, printers, cameras, a motorcycle, and various goods worth about Tk 902,450. Jamaat leaders accused BNP and its affiliated organizations of involvement in the attack, calling for exemplary punishment. BNP leaders, however, denied any connection, claiming Jamaat had been distributing goods to voters ahead of the election, which caused local resentment but not the attack itself.

Purbadhala police officer-in-charge Md Didarul Islam said he had heard about the incident but had not yet received a formal complaint. He stated that legal action would be taken once a complaint is filed.

Five leaders of the Kamalganj upazila and municipal units of the BNP under Moulvibazar-4 constituency have been relieved of their organizational positions for allegedly violating party discipline and engaging in anti-organizational activities. The decision was announced in a press release issued by the Moulvibazar district BNP on Monday night, signed by convener Md. Faizul Karim Moyun and member secretary Md. Abdur Rahim Ripon. The order took immediate effect.

The expelled leaders are Alom Parvez Chowdhury Sohel, Iqbal Parvez Chowdhury Shahin, Shafiqul Rahman, Abdus Shahid, and Haji Noman Ahmad. The action followed allegations from BNP’s nominated candidate for Moulvibazar-4, Haji Mujibur Rahman Chowdhury, who claimed that several local leaders were working against the party’s official candidate symbol. Meanwhile, former district BNP member Mohsin Mia Madhu is contesting as an independent candidate with the football symbol.

The district BNP also instructed party members and affiliated organizations not to maintain organizational contact with the expelled individuals. Earlier, on January 19, five other Kamalganj BNP leaders, including a joint convener, were removed on similar charges.

Singer Asif Akbar campaigned for BNP candidate Jasim Uddin in Cumilla-5 constituency on Tuesday, joining a public outreach event at Sahebabad Bazar in Brahmanpara. During the gathering, Asif urged residents of Burichang and Brahmanpara to vote for the BNP’s symbol, the paddy sheaf, in the upcoming election scheduled for February 12. He expressed his intention to continue campaigning across the country in support of the BNP.

Jasim Uddin, the BNP candidate for Cumilla-5, thanked Asif Akbar for visiting his constituency and said that local party members were delighted by the artist’s presence. Leaders and activists from the Brahmanpara units of BNP, Jubo Dal, Chhatra Dal, and other affiliated organizations were also present at the event.

The campaign appearance highlighted the involvement of cultural figures in local political activities as the election date approaches.