At an election campaign event in Goaldihi Union of Khansama upazila on Sunday night, BNP-nominated candidate for Dinajpur-4 (Khansama–Chirirbandar) constituency, Alhaj Akhtaruzzaman Mia, stated that party leader Tarique Rahman was compelled to go abroad due to prolonged persecution and for medical reasons. He described the move not as fleeing the country but as a form of ‘Hijrat’, meaning migration for safety and growth.

Mia argued that migration under oppression enhances knowledge and wisdom, asserting that Allah has sent Tarique Rahman back to Bangladesh with intellect and insight. He rejected claims by the Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer that Rahman left the country after signing a bond, saying such accusations were false. Mia also criticized Jamaat leaders for allegedly infiltrating ruling party organizations instead of joining street movements.

He challenged opponents to produce evidence of their so-called ‘July fighters’, claiming that 450 BNP activists had embraced martyrdom during political struggles. Several local BNP leaders also addressed the gathering.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami leaders have launched a two-day campaign tour in the country’s southwest region as part of the 13th parliamentary election drive. Party chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman is scheduled to address public rallies organized by the 11-party electoral alliance in eight districts. On Monday, he will attend rallies in Kushtia, Meherpur, Jhenaidah, and Chuadanga, beginning at 10 a.m. at Kushtia’s Shaheed Abrar Fahad Stadium.

Before this tour, Dr. Rahman conducted campaign visits across eight northern districts on January 23 and 24. During the current southwest visit, he is accompanied by Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar, Jessore-Kushtia regional director Mobarak Hossain, Khulna regional director Muhaddis Abdul Khalek, and other local leaders and activists.

The southwest campaign marks Jamaat’s second major outreach outside Dhaka in the ongoing election season, reflecting the party’s continued efforts to mobilize regional support through alliance-based rallies.

Israel has extended its ban on Al Jazeera Media Network’s operations and offices in the country for another 90 days. The order, signed by Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi and announced on Sunday, prolongs restrictions first imposed in May 2024 when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet voted to shut down the network’s activities during the Gaza war.

The move follows a 2024 Knesset law allowing temporary closure of foreign broadcasters deemed threats to national security. In September that year, Israeli forces raided Al Jazeera’s Ramallah office, seizing equipment and documents. In December, the Knesset extended the law’s validity for two more years, a measure widely referred to as the “Al Jazeera law.” According to Al Jazeera Arabic’s bureau chief Walif al-Omari, Israeli authorities claim the network’s broadcasts harm national security.

Al Jazeera has long faced Israeli restrictions, including threats to close its Jerusalem office in 2017 and the destruction of its Gaza building in 2021. The network has also lost several journalists in Israeli attacks, including reporter Shireen Abu Akleh in 2022.

In the Chattogram-12 (Patiya) constituency for the 13th National Parliamentary Election, Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Dr. Faridul Alam withdrew his candidacy on Saturday night to support Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) nominee M. Ayakub Ali. The decision was made at an emergency meeting of the Chattogram South District Jamaat office, where leaders confirmed that the move aimed to preserve the unity of the 11-party alliance. Although Dr. Alam will withdraw, the Election Commission stated that his symbol, the balance scale, will remain on the ballot as symbols have already been allocated.

Earlier, the Election Commission had declared M. Ayakub Ali’s nomination invalid, prompting him to seek legal recourse. Following a High Court directive on January 22, his candidacy was reinstated, and he received his election symbol the next day. Dr. Alam had already begun campaigning before the alliance’s central decision to support the LDP candidate.

Local Jamaat and LDP leaders said the decision was taken in the broader interest of the alliance, pledging to work together to secure victory for the LDP in Patiya.

Venezuelan interim president Delcy Rodríguez stated on Sunday that she has received 'enough' instructions from Washington, following the United States’ attack against ousted president Nicolás Maduro and his subsequent detention. Rodríguez made the remarks during a speech to oil workers in the eastern state of Anzoátegui.

In her address, Rodríguez emphasized that Venezuelan politicians have already received sufficient directives from Washington and called for an end to foreign interference. She urged that internal disagreements and political differences in Venezuela should be resolved domestically without external involvement.

Her comments, reported by AFP, come amid heightened tensions following U.S. actions against Maduro, signaling a call for national sovereignty and reduced foreign influence in Venezuela’s political affairs.

Large protests broke out in Minneapolis, Minnesota, after the fatal shooting of U.S. citizen Alex Pretty during a federal immigration enforcement operation. Governor Tim Walz renewed his call for President Donald Trump to withdraw federal agents from the state, describing the moment as a turning point. Demonstrators gathered in the city center, chanting against federal immigration officers and vowing to continue until the agents leave. Vehicles passing by honked in support of the protesters.

The Minnesota Department of Corrections rejected claims by federal officials that the operation targeted a man with a criminal record, saying the individual had no connection to state custody or convictions. Border Patrol Commander Graig Bovino stated that all agents involved remain on duty but have been relocated for safety. President Trump, in a social media post and later in an interview, praised the agents’ work and hinted they would eventually leave Minneapolis, though he gave no timeline.

The University of Minnesota expressed sorrow over Pretty’s death, calling it a painful time for the community and offering condolences to his family and loved ones.

BNP candidate for Sylhet-2 constituency, Tahsina Rushdir Luna, has called on voters to cast their ballots for the party’s symbol, the ‘Sheaf of Paddy,’ on January 12 to restore the region’s development momentum. She made the appeal on Sunday evening at an election rally organized by the Umarpur Union BNP in Osmaninagar, Sylhet, where she served as the chief guest.

Luna said the BNP’s acting chairman, Tarique Rahman, has outlined a detailed plan to build a strong and prosperous state through family-centered development. She pledged that if the BNP returns to power, family welfare would be central to governance. Her proposals included introducing family cards for women-led households, agricultural cards for farmers, revitalizing community clinics, increasing salaries for imams and muezzins, and expanding skill-based training for youth employment.

Referring to past local development under missing leader Ilias Ali, Luna urged voters to support the BNP to revive that progress. The rally was attended by senior BNP leaders, local representatives, and a large number of supporters.

Candidates contesting the Sylhet-6 constituency are conducting their election campaigns with relatively low expenditures, relying mainly on donations from expatriates. According to their affidavits, all five candidates have declared that they will use contributed funds rather than personal wealth. BNP candidate Emran Ahmad Chowdhury expects to spend about 6.5 million taka, of which 1.5 million will come from his own income, while the rest will be provided by expatriate relatives and well-wishers in France and the United Kingdom.

In the same constituency, Jatiya Party’s Mohammad Abdun Noor plans to spend 2.5 million taka, including 2.2 million from expatriate relatives. Independent candidate Md. Fakhrul Islam will use 2 million taka from his brother’s overseas earnings out of a total 2.4 million budget. Jamaat-e-Islami’s Mohammad Selim Uddin and Gano Adhikar Parishad’s Zahidur Rahman will spend 2.4 million and 2.5 million taka respectively.

Local civic group leader Advocate Md. Aman Uddin noted that the Beanibazar-Golapganj area has long depended on expatriate support in both national and local elections, and this year’s contest continues that pattern.

Election campaigning has begun in the Lakshmipur-4 (Ramgati-Kamalnagar) constituency for the 13th parliamentary elections, but voters report little excitement. Unlike previous elections, the area remains free of posters, with only limited use of microphones and festoons in the afternoons. Candidates from several parties, including BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, JSD, Islami Andolon, and Gana Odhikar Parishad, are contesting the seat.

Field observations show empty campaign spaces with few visible materials. Candidates are relying on hand microphones and leaflets to reach voters, while posters—traditionally a key campaign tool—are absent. Locals, including educators and residents, note that although posters often clutter the environment, they also help create electoral enthusiasm, which is missing this time.

According to Election Commission official Abdul Wadud Suman, the commission has introduced new restrictions: campaign microphones may operate only between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., festoon use is limited, and posters are completely banned. Digital and social media campaigning is permitted under the new rules.

Amir Hamza, the Jamaat-e-Islami candidate for the Kushtia Sadar parliamentary seat, has claimed that certain groups are engaged in a deep conspiracy against the country. He issued this warning to citizens through a post on his verified Facebook page at around 11 p.m. on Sunday, urging everyone to remain alert and not to believe in rumors.

In his message, Hamza called on the public to stay vigilant, keep their eyes and ears open, and avoid spreading or reacting to unverified information. He suggested that if people remain cautious, those spreading rumors would be frustrated. The post was intended as an advance warning to the nation, emphasizing unity and awareness among citizens.

The statement comes amid his ongoing campaign activities in Kushtia Sadar, where he continues to use social media to communicate directly with supporters and the broader public.

Maulana Mojibur Rahman, the Khelafat Majlis candidate for the Comilla-4 (Debidwar) constituency, has withdrawn from the election to support Hasnat Abdullah, the 11-party alliance candidate led by Jamaat-e-Islami and the chief organizer of the National Citizens Party (NCP) in the southern region. On Sunday, January 25, he joined Hasnat Abdullah’s campaign in several villages of Debidwar, urging voters to support the alliance’s symbol, the Shapla Koli.

Mojibur Rahman stated that although he did not officially withdraw his candidacy earlier, he is now working in the field according to his party’s decision to ensure the victory of the alliance candidate. He expressed confidence that the Shapla Koli symbol would secure victory for the coalition.

Earlier, on January 20, the final day for candidate withdrawal, Mojibur Rahman had announced his intention to continue contesting. However, he later aligned with the alliance’s decision and began active campaigning for Hasnat Abdullah.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman is scheduled to visit Feni on Friday, January 30, to attend an election rally of the 11-party alliance. The event will begin at 8 a.m. at Feni Government Pilot High School field, where he will deliver the keynote speech as the chief guest. The information was confirmed by the party’s Feni district Ameer, Mufti Abdul Hannan.

According to party sources, Dhaka University Central Students’ Union Vice President Sadiq Kayem, NCP leader Hasnat Abdullah, and Chittagong University Central Students’ Union Vice President Ibrahim Hossain Rony are also expected to speak at the rally. The gathering will call on supporters to unite behind alliance candidates in Feni-1, Feni-2, and Feni-3 constituencies and to support a ‘Yes’ vote in the upcoming referendum. Leaders from other alliance parties at various levels will also address the event.

The visit has generated enthusiasm among alliance activists, with preparations underway for a large turnout. Dr. Rahman last visited Feni on February 3 of the previous year for humanitarian and commemorative activities.

A report alleges that 153 officials appointed to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) during the past 15 years under the Awami League government remain in their positions despite questions about their legality. Many were reportedly hired without proper qualifications, competitive exams, or within the legal age limits, often through political recommendations. The appointments allegedly violated government recruitment rules and the 2001 Telecommunications Act. A 2023 compliance audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General raised objections over these irregularities, but no corrective action has been taken.

Sources cited in the report claim that after the July uprising and the formation of the caretaker government, other sectors saw promotions for long-deprived officials, but BTRC did not. Over one-third of its 355 permanent staff are said to hold illegal appointments, while more than 50 positions remain vacant. Some of the disputed appointees are reportedly lobbying for promotions. A three-member committee was formed to investigate, but it has yet to submit a report.

The report suggests that political influence and administrative irregularities have hindered BTRC’s intended role as an independent regulator of the telecommunications sector.

Dr. Md. Enamul Haque, in an article published on January 26, 2026, reflects on Bangladesh’s 2024 mass uprising, which he says cost thousands of lives and injuries but did not bring structural change. He writes that despite the public’s demand for accountability and balance of power, the state’s core machinery remained intact, with only faces changing in government. The author identifies a persistent 'deep state'—a network of military and civilian bureaucracy, security agencies, economic oligarchs, foreign-linked lobbies, and media influence—that operates beyond elected authority.

According to Haque, this deep state neutralized the uprising through delay tactics, narrative control, and preservation of administrative continuity. Promised reforms, investigations, and rehabilitation remained largely declarative, while the same bureaucratic and security structures continued to dominate. He argues that no meaningful accountability, electoral reform, or economic transparency followed the movement.

The article concludes that real transformation requires dismantling entrenched power habits through transparency, decentralization, and institutional reform. Without such change, Haque warns, future uprisings will repeat the same cycle of sacrifice without systemic progress.

BNP-nominated candidate Air Vice Marshal (Retd.) Altaf Hossain Chowdhury carried out a mass outreach campaign in Patuakhali municipality on Monday night, January 25. Representing the Patuakhali-1 constituency, which includes Patuakhali Sadar, Mirzaganj, and Dumki, he began the campaign from Suraiya Villa on Sher-e-Bangla Road, accompanied by district BNP leaders and a large number of activists. The team distributed leaflets starting from New Market and marched through the main streets of the town before holding a brief street meeting at the local launch terminal area.

District BNP President Snehangshu Sarkar Kuti, General Secretary Advocate Md. Mojibur Rahman Toton, and Election Steering Committee Coordinator Maksud Ahmed Bayezid Panna were among those present. Several other district leaders and activists also joined the campaign, which aimed to strengthen BNP’s presence in the constituency.

The event marked a formal start to Altaf Hossain Chowdhury’s local campaign activities in the area as part of BNP’s broader electoral efforts in Patuakhali.