BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman concluded seven election rallies within 16 hours on the first day of his campaign, returning to his residence in Gulshan late at night. The campaign began at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday at the historic Alia Madrasa field in Sylhet, marking the formal start of BNP’s election activities. He then addressed consecutive rallies across several districts in the Sylhet division and nearby areas.

As part of the daylong tour, Rahman attended rallies at Ainpur field in Sherpur, Moulvibazar; Shayestaganj Upazila Parishad field in Habiganj; Kuttapara field in Sarail, Brahmanbaria; Bhairab Stadium in Kishoreganj; and a venue near Narsingdi municipality. The final rally took place in Gausia, Rupganj, Narayanganj, ending around 4:30 a.m. He reached his Gulshan home later that night, confirmed by BNP’s media cell member Shayrul Kabir Khan.

Large crowds reportedly gathered at each location, with enthusiastic participation from party leaders and supporters. According to organizers, the first day of BNP’s campaign drew a strong public response across multiple districts.

Despite the Awami League’s formal suspension, reports indicate that several individuals linked to the banned party are contesting the upcoming parliamentary elections in Bangladesh under independent or smaller party banners. Intelligence sources and field investigations have revealed that former ministers, advisers, and grassroots leaders are seeking nominations through parties such as Ganadhikar Parishad, Jatiya Party (Ershad), Jatiya Party (JP), and Bangladesh Congress. The Election Commission had earlier warned that proven links to banned organizations would lead to disqualification, but doubts remain about enforcement.

The report highlights multiple constituencies, including Gopalganj, Tangail, Manikganj, Faridpur, Bogura, Khulna, and Chuadanga, where candidates with Awami League ties are running under alternative affiliations. Security agencies have identified these constituencies as high-risk due to possible unrest. Law enforcement has been advised to increase army and border guard patrols to prevent violence or vote center takeovers.

Experts warn that the covert participation of banned political actors poses a new challenge for electoral integrity and long-term political stability in Bangladesh, urging voter awareness and strict monitoring of campaign activities.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has released the constituency-wise voter list ahead of the upcoming parliamentary election and referendum scheduled for February 12. According to the list published on Thursday, the total number of registered voters stands at 127,711,895. Among them, 64,825,151 are male voters, 62,885,524 are female voters, and 1,120 are transgender voters.

The EC data shows significant variation in voter distribution across the 300 constituencies. Jhalokathi-1 has the lowest number of voters at 228,431, while Gazipur-2 has the highest with 804,333 voters. The updated list was made public as part of the commission’s preparations for the national election and referendum.

The publication of the voter list marks a key step in the electoral process, providing clarity on the size and composition of the electorate ahead of the February 12 vote.

A local BNP leader named Hasan Molla was shot by unidentified assailants in front of the party office in Keraniganj, Dhaka, on Thursday night. He was critically injured and taken to Square Hospital in Dhaka for treatment. Local residents demanded the immediate arrest of those involved in the attack.

According to local sources, Hasan Molla, who serves as the general secretary of the Hazratpur Union BNP, was standing on the road in front of the party office when several attackers suddenly opened fire on him before fleeing the scene. Witnesses rescued him and took him to the hospital, where his condition was reported to be critical.

Amanullah Aman, the BNP-nominated candidate for Dhaka-2 constituency, strongly condemned the attack, suggesting that it might have been an attempt to disrupt the upcoming February 12 election. He urged authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice and ensure exemplary punishment.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar said that people deprived of voting for a long time are now rushing to participate like a tidal wave. He claimed that an unprecedented public awakening has emerged in favor of the party’s scale symbol in the Dumuria-Phultala region. Parwar made these remarks on Thursday morning while addressing a street rally and courtyard meeting after an election campaign in Dhamalia Union of Dumuria upazila.

He described Jamaat-e-Islami as a party that has stood the test of time and criticized the country’s 54 years of governance for corruption, looting, misrule, money laundering, interference in the judiciary, and suppression of dissent. He alleged that while opposition activists face false cases and disappearances, ruling party members accused of serious crimes have received bail.

Parwar added that ten parties believing in Islamic ideals, the spirit of the July movement, and the values of the Liberation War have united to build a just Bangladesh. He urged voters nationwide to elect candidates from the ten-party alliance.

Candidates contesting in Barishal’s six parliamentary constituencies have officially begun their election campaigns ahead of Bangladesh’s 13th national parliamentary election, scheduled for February 12. On Thursday afternoon, BNP-nominated candidate for Barishal-5, Mojibur Rahman Sarwar, started his campaign with prayers and public outreach along Sadar Road. Islami Andolan candidate Mufti Syed Muhammad Faizul Karim also launched his campaign the same day, distributing leaflets and urging voters to support his party’s symbol.

Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (BASAD) candidate Dr. Manisha Chakraborty began her campaign by paying tribute at the Barishal Central Shaheed Minar before distributing leaflets in various city areas. In Barishal-2, BNP candidate S. Sarfuddin Ahmed Santu and JASAD candidate Abul Kalam Azad Badol conducted public outreach in Uzirpur and Banaripara respectively. In Barishal-1, BNP candidate Zahir Uddin Swapan and the party’s rebel candidate Engineer Abdus Sobahan also engaged in voter contact and leaflet distribution.

The coordinated start of campaign activities marks the formal beginning of electioneering in Barishal, as candidates intensify efforts to reach voters ahead of the February 12 polls.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has called on expatriate Bangladeshi voters to exercise their voting rights in the upcoming election by January 25. In a Facebook post published on Thursday night, he urged them to contribute to positive change in the country by casting two significant votes—one in favor of reforming what he described as a 54-year-old corrupt and misgoverned system through a referendum, and another for building a just, corruption-free, and people-oriented Bangladesh.

In his message, Rahman emphasized that every political party has the right to seek votes and encouraged voters to make informed decisions based on recent political developments since July 2024. He reminded expatriates that voting is not only their right but also a sacred responsibility to guide the nation in the right direction.

The post reflects Jamaat-e-Islami’s effort to mobilize support among expatriate Bangladeshis ahead of the national election, highlighting themes of reform, justice, and anti-corruption.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman called on supporters to vote for allied candidates under their respective election symbols during a campaign rally in Brahmanbaria on Thursday night. The event took place around 10:45 p.m. at Kottapara Field as part of BNP’s campaign for the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. Rahman specifically sought votes for the ‘palm tree’ and ‘headgear’ symbols representing allied parties’ candidates.

BNP has extended support to Zonayed Saki, chief coordinator of Ganosamhati Andolon, contesting from Brahmanbaria-6 (Bancharampur), and to Maulana Junayed Al Habib, vice-president of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh, running in Brahmanbaria-2 (Sarail–Ashuganj and part of Bijoynagar). Both candidates are competing under their own party symbols. Rahman told party activists that these allies had stood by BNP during difficult times and urged them to vote accordingly.

The Brahmanbaria rally followed BNP’s campaign launch earlier in the day at Sylhet’s historic Alia Madrasa Field, with subsequent gatherings in Moulvibazar and Habiganj before concluding in Brahmanbaria late at night.

On the first day of campaigning for the 13th National Parliamentary Election, fifty-five people, including twenty-two leaders of Islami Andolan, formally joined Jamaat-e-Islami in Chuadanga. The joining ceremony took place on Thursday night at the football field of Gaidghat village in Makhaldanga Union under Chuadanga Sadar upazila, where the new members were welcomed with flower garlands by Jamaat leaders.

The group joining Jamaat included 22 Islami Andolan leaders led by Shahin Ali, the union’s health affairs secretary, 15 BNP activists led by Rana Ali, and 18 residents from various professions in Gaidghat village. The event was presided over by union Jamaat Amir Mohsin Ali and attended by Chuadanga-1 Jamaat candidate and district assistant secretary Masud Parvez Russell as chief guest, along with several district and upazila Jamaat leaders.

Shahin Ali stated that the decision came due to dissatisfaction with Islami Andolan’s central leadership, while Masud Parvez Russell said the new members were inspired by Jamaat’s ideals and urged unity to ensure victory for the party’s symbol in the upcoming election.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has decided to hold a meeting with diplomats from various foreign missions stationed in the country. The meeting, scheduled for Sunday at 10:30 a.m. at The Westin in Dhaka, aims to explain the commission’s position regarding the upcoming 13th National Parliament election and the related referendum. A responsible source within the commission confirmed the information.

According to an election commissioner, the meeting will include foreign diplomats, ambassadors from different countries, and representatives of the United Nations. Discussions will focus on the EC’s preparations for the February 12 election, transparency measures, and issues related to international observation. The initiative reflects the commission’s intent to engage with the diplomatic community ahead of the national vote.

The meeting is expected to clarify the EC’s stance and readiness for the upcoming electoral process, providing an opportunity for foreign missions to understand the commission’s approach to ensuring transparency and international oversight.

The formal campaign for Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliamentary Election began on Thursday, marked by a rally in support of Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Maulana Obaidullah Salafi in Nilphamari-3 (Jaldhaka). The Jaldhaka Upazila unit of Jamaat organized the procession in favor of the party’s traditional scale symbol, starting at 4:30 p.m. from the Al-Falah upazila office. Several local leaders, including district council member Prabhashak Sader Hossain, acting Amir and Jaldhaka Press Club president Alhaj Kamruzzaman, and NCP leader Mohayminul Rahman Sana, participated in leading the march.

According to the report, this election marks the first time in nearly 17 years that Jamaat-e-Islami is contesting under its own electoral symbol. Political observers noted that this opportunity has energized the party’s activists and supporters across the region.

The event in Jaldhaka reflects Jamaat’s renewed organizational activity as the national campaign period officially opens, signaling heightened political engagement ahead of the upcoming polls.

Advocate Fazlur Rahman, the BNP-nominated candidate for Kishoreganj-4 (Itna–Mithamain–Austagram) constituency, fell ill on his way to attend a public rally of BNP Chairperson Tareq Rahman in Bhairab on Thursday afternoon. He was subsequently admitted to Jahurul Islam Medical College Hospital in Bhagalpur, Bajitpur upazila of Kishoreganj, around 4:30 p.m.

According to his personal assistant Enamul Haque, Fazlur Rahman suddenly became unwell while traveling to the rally venue, developing fever and vomiting. Hospital Director Professor Dr. Bahar Uddin Bhuiyan stated that the patient was suffering from fever, breathing difficulties, and a respiratory infection. When asked about his condition, Dr. Bhuiyan said it was too early to determine whether he was out of danger, as medical tests were still ongoing.

The incident occurred ahead of a major BNP gathering in Bhairab, where Tareq Rahman was scheduled to address supporters.

New Delhi has decided to bring back the families of Indian diplomats and government officials working in Bangladesh, citing security precautions. The decision, reported by India’s Press Trust of India (PTI), comes just weeks before Bangladesh’s 13th national parliamentary election. However, India clarified that its High Commission in Dhaka and other missions abroad will remain open. According to PTI, officials advised family members of Indian personnel stationed in Dhaka and other posts to return to India as part of the security alert.

A BBC report stated that India’s Ministry of External Affairs has now classified Bangladesh as a “non-family” posting, placing it alongside Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Sudan. In response, Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain said there is no evidence that Bangladesh failed to ensure the safety of Indians. He described India’s move to equate Bangladesh with Pakistan as unfortunate but acknowledged it was India’s decision.

Hossain added that maintaining strong bilateral relations requires both sides to act responsibly, warning that repeated divisive steps could damage ties. He also remarked that India’s reaction appeared somewhat excessive based on his four decades of experience.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman announced that his party would introduce family cards for tea workers and day laborers if it comes to power. He also promised honorariums for imams. Rahman made these remarks on Thursday, January 22, at an election rally organized by Moulvibazar District BNP at Ainpur field in Sherpur under Sadar upazila, where he was the chief guest.

In his speech, Rahman said that during previous BNP governments, local development had accelerated, women’s education was made free up to the intermediate level, and small agricultural loans were forgiven. He claimed that under BNP rule, citizens could speak freely and criticize the government without fear of abduction or killing. He credited the sacrifices of many people for the party’s current position.

Rahman further highlighted that half of the country’s population is women and recalled that Begum Khaleda Zia had made education free for girls from class one to intermediate level. He added that a future BNP government would create employment opportunities for unemployed youth.

Newly appointed US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent Christensen has reaffirmed Washington’s strong support for Bangladesh’s democratic transition. During a meeting on Thursday afternoon with National Security Adviser Khililur Rahman at the adviser’s office, Christensen praised the interim government’s initiatives regarding upcoming elections and reform programs. The meeting lasted about an hour and covered key aspects of bilateral relations, according to a statement from the Chief Adviser’s Office.

Discussions included mutual tariff agreements, humanitarian assistance for Rohingya refugees, visa bonds, immigration issues, and the repatriation of undocumented Bangladeshis from the United States. The two sides also discussed opportunities for US business and investment in Bangladesh, expansion of economic cooperation, and regional matters of shared interest. The statement said the ambassador reiterated US support for Bangladesh’s political stability and democratic process, emphasizing that free, fair, and participatory elections are vital for the country’s democratic progress.

Khililur Rahman welcomed Christensen as the new ambassador and recalled his previous service in Dhaka and Washington. He expressed hope that bilateral relations would strengthen further during Christensen’s tenure.