Jamaat-e-Islami’s central Nayeb-e-Ameer Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher has described the upcoming national election as highly challenging. Speaking on Wednesday afternoon at a views-exchange meeting in Chauddagram, Comilla, with former chairmen, commissioners, and members of thirteen unions, he said that Bangladesh achieved freedom from what he termed Indian subjugation through a revolution on August 5, fifty-four years after independence.

Dr. Taher stated that although Bangladesh had territorial sovereignty, successive governments had accepted subordination to India. He claimed that the youth of the country had shed blood to free Bangladesh from Indian dominance, calling it the nation’s “second independence” and the beginning of a new Bangladesh. He also said that during his tenure in power from 2001 to 2006, he did not engage in corruption, but was arrested on false charges and later certified as corruption-free by the authorities.

The remarks were made in the context of Jamaat’s ongoing political activities ahead of the next national election, which Dr. Taher characterized as a critical national challenge.

Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB) Director General Faruk Wasif has alleged that Sheikh Hasina came to power not for the welfare of the nation or its people, but to fulfill family vengeance and take revenge on the citizens. He made the remarks on Wednesday morning while inaugurating a two-day training workshop on election-time journalism for media workers in Cox’s Bazar, held at the District Council auditorium.

Emphasizing responsible, objective, and public-interest journalism during elections, Wasif criticized what he called 'broker journalism' for repeatedly undermining national achievements. He warned that new attempts to create misleading narratives could question democracy and the electoral process. He also highlighted Cox’s Bazar’s historical importance and the sacrifices made during the 1971 Liberation War and the recent July uprising, stressing the media’s vital role in protecting these gains.

Wasif further alleged that fascist elements have infiltrated the achievements of the July uprising and that manipulative journalism has previously enabled state repression. He criticized the media’s past role, claiming that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s politics became limited after BAKSAL and that Sheikh Hasina’s retaliatory politics pushed the country toward a one-party state using the media as a tool.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has expelled Sadiqur Rahman Shubho, joint general secretary of Melandah upazila BNP in Jamalpur, for violating party discipline and engaging in anti-organizational activities. The expulsion was announced on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, through a notice signed by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

According to the notice, Sadiqur Rahman was expelled from all party positions and his primary membership for contesting the Jamalpur-3 (Melandah-Madarganj) constituency as an independent candidate under the “cup and saucer” symbol. He had sought the BNP nomination for the seat, but the party chose central committee assistant secretary Mostafizur Rahman Babul instead. Two other aspirants accepted the decision, but Sadiqur proceeded independently.

The BNP directive also instructed party leaders and activists not to maintain any organizational contact with Sadiqur Rahman following his expulsion.

Barrister Arman, son of executed war crimes convict Mir Quasem Ali, testified before International Crimes Tribunal-1 on Wednesday as the first witness in a case concerning enforced disappearance and torture at the Rapid Action Battalion’s Taskforce for Interrogation (TFI) cell. He alleged that on August 9, 2016, armed men abducted him from his home and held him in secret detention for eight years. During his confinement, he was blindfolded, handcuffed, and subjected to severe physical and psychological abuse. Arman said his weight was measured upon arrival, and he was told later that he had narrowly escaped execution.

His testimony implicated former prime minister Hasina and 12 current and former army officers among 17 accused in the case. Arman described the TFI cell conditions, identifying it as part of the RAB-1 compound under the RAB Intelligence Wing. He recounted being kept in a damp cell, hearing other detainees’ screams, and suffering from illness and suspected poisoning. He said he was eventually released near Uttara’s Diabari area after years of captivity.

The tribunal, chaired by Golam Mortuza Mojumdar, recorded his statement as part of ongoing proceedings into alleged abductions and torture under the previous government.

National Citizen Party (NCP) member secretary Akhtar Hossain said on Wednesday in Rangpur that the Jatiya Party has exposed its fascist nature through its 'No' vote campaign. Speaking to reporters after receiving his election symbol for the Rangpur-4 constituency, he claimed that the public would not support the 'No' campaign but would instead reject the Jatiya Party itself. He described the party as authoritarian and accused it of opposing reforms to the existing state structure.

Hossain expressed concern over the country's deteriorating law and order situation, citing recent incidents involving the death of a Rapid Action Battalion member and casualties in Mirpur. He urged the government and the Election Commission to ensure the safety of candidates and voters during the campaign period. Referring to past elections, he alleged that ordinary citizens had faced repression and manipulation, and called for decisive government action to prevent illegal arms and violence.

Highlighting the importance of the upcoming referendum, Hossain said the NCP and its allies were campaigning for a 'Yes' vote to implement reforms outlined in the July Charter. He urged citizens to support participatory governance and reject authoritarianism.

Rifaat al-Assad, the exiled uncle of former Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad, has died in the United Arab Emirates at the age of 88, according to media reports citing Reuters. He was the brother of the late Syrian president Hafez al-Assad. Rifaat became infamous for leading forces that crushed an Islamist uprising in the central Syrian city of Hama in 1982, an operation that involved airstrikes and shelling and reportedly killed around 37,000 people. The brutality of that campaign earned him the nickname “Butcher of Hama.”

Following the Hama crackdown, Rifaat attempted a failed coup against his brother Hafez, which forced him into exile. He spent many years in France, where he faced charges of embezzling Syrian state funds. In 2020, a French court sentenced him to four years in prison and ordered the confiscation of his assets. After the verdict was upheld in 2022, Rifaat returned to Syria.

In December 2024, after Bashar al-Assad was deposed, Rifaat fled Syria again, traveling through Lebanon to Dubai, where he later died.

BNP Standing Committee member and Bhola-3 parliamentary candidate Major (Retd.) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram said that the next Bangladesh will be a country of communal harmony and strong democracy. He made the remarks on Wednesday afternoon at a meeting with the Hindu community held in the courtyard of the Sri Sri Madan Mohan Jiu Temple in Lalmohan municipality of Bhola.

During the event, Major Hafiz criticized the Awami League’s 16-year rule, alleging that elections during that period were a mockery. He stated that the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election, scheduled for February 12, would firmly establish democracy in Bangladesh. He urged all citizens to go to the polling centers and vote for candidates who would lead the country toward happiness and prosperity.

The meeting was presided over by temple president Nirab Kumar Dey and attended by local BNP leaders, including the presidents and general secretaries of the Lalmohan upazila and municipal BNP units, along with party activists.

Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam announced that Bangladesh’s national parliamentary election will be held on February 12 across all 300 constituencies. He made the statement at a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka on January 21. The Election Commission confirmed that complexities regarding Pabna-1 and Pabna-2 constituencies have been resolved, allowing voting in all seats. Ballot paper printing is scheduled to begin at midnight on January 21.

According to the press secretary, the government held a high-level emergency meeting led by the Chief Adviser to review election security. The Chief Adviser instructed authorities to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply during voting and to recover stolen weapons. Law enforcement will use 25,500 body-worn cameras linked to a security app for quick response. Around 150,000 police, 100,000 army personnel, and members from other forces including Navy, Air Force, Ansar, BGB, RAB, and Fire Service will be deployed, along with 500 drones.

A total of 1,842 valid candidates will contest the election. Sixty-nine returning officers, 657 judicial magistrates, and 1,047 executive magistrates will oversee the process, coordinated through the “Election Security” app.

Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir organized a protest march in Feni on Wednesday to oppose the suspension of the ShakSU election. The demonstration, arranged by the organization’s Feni city branch, began in front of the central Jame Mosque and proceeded through Doel Square on Trunk Road and the Model Police Station area before concluding with a gathering at the Shaheed Minar.

During the event, leaders from the district and city branches of Chhatra Shibir delivered brief speeches. They demanded the immediate implementation of the ShakSU election, expressing dissatisfaction over its postponement.

The protest reflected the organization’s continued call for student representation through the ShakSU body, though no official response to their demand was mentioned in the report.

NCP member secretary Akhtar Hossain has called for ensuring the safety of all candidates during the election campaign, warning that no one should face a fate similar to that of Hadi. He made the remarks on Wednesday at a press conference, referring to the recent killing of a RAB officer during an operation in Sitakunda’s Jungle Salimpur area, which he said reflected a deterioration in the country’s law and order situation.

Akhtar urged the government to take measures so that no illegal weapons remain in circulation, no conflicts occur, and no voters or candidates suffer harm. His comments came as political parties prepare for election activities under heightened security concerns.

The statement underscores growing anxiety over political violence and the need for stronger law enforcement to ensure a peaceful electoral environment.

Interim Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus said the government has entered a 'phased test' ahead of the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election and the referendum on the July National Charter. He made the remarks on Wednesday at a meeting held at the Chief Adviser’s Office in Tejgaon, Dhaka. Yunus stated that the process begins now and will conclude on February 12, emphasizing that the Election Commission’s directives are the highest authority and must be followed collectively.

During the meeting, the Chief Adviser said the Ministry of Home Affairs will play the lead role in maintaining law and order during the election period, expressing confidence that a fair election is possible under current conditions. Election Commission Secretary Akhtar Ahmed reported that 51 of 59 registered political parties will participate, and observers from 26 countries have been invited, with the European Union expected to send about 300 observers.

Army Chief Waker-Uz-Zaman informed that 3,619 weapons were looted during the August 2024 uprising, of which 2,259 have been recovered. Home Affairs Adviser Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury added that armed forces members will act as law enforcement and may enter polling centers if necessary.

Overseas Bangladeshi voters registered through the ‘Postal Vote BD’ app can begin casting their postal ballots from 5 p.m. on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, for the upcoming 13th National Parliament election and referendum. According to the Election Commission (EC), voters can follow the prescribed procedure on the commission’s website or the app to select candidates and symbols for their respective constituencies. Completed postal ballots must reach the returning officer’s office in Bangladesh by January 25.

The EC stated that the ‘Postal Vote BD’ mobile app includes necessary security features to prevent unauthorized voting and ensure full confidentiality of the voting process. Salim Ahmad Khan, team leader of the OCV-SDI project, said the commission has already sent postal ballots to 767,028 expatriate voters in 121 countries. In total, 1,533,683 voters have registered through the app for the election and referendum.

The initiative marks a significant step in enabling expatriate participation in Bangladesh’s electoral process through digital and postal means, with strict deadlines and security measures in place.

The press secretary to the chief adviser of the interim government, Shafiqul Alam, announced that the results of the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election may be delayed. He made the statement following a law and order meeting on election issues chaired by the chief adviser on Wednesday. Alam explained that the delay could occur because both the parliamentary election and a referendum will be held simultaneously, along with the counting of postal ballots.

According to the press secretary, several new measures have been introduced this year to ensure a thorough and accurate vote count, which may take additional time. He also confirmed that the election will be held in all 300 constituencies on February 12, and ballot paper printing will begin at midnight on January 21. The Election Commission secretary has resolved the complications regarding Pabna-1 and Pabna-2 constituencies, ensuring full participation across the country.

The announcement aims to preempt rumors that often arise when vote counting takes longer than expected, emphasizing transparency and procedural integrity in the upcoming election process.

Former state minister for information and member of Bangladesh’s constitution drafting committee, Professor Abu Sayeed, has officially joined the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). The announcement was made on Wednesday at the BNP chairperson’s political office in Gulshan, Dhaka, where he presented flowers to the party’s secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. A day earlier, Sayeed had met with BNP chairperson Tarique Rahman.

Professor Abu Sayeed previously served as a member of parliament from Pabna-1 in 1973 and 1996 and held the position of state minister for information under Sheikh Hasina’s government in 1996. Over the years, he contested elections under various political banners, including BAKSAL, Awami League, as an independent, and as a Gono Forum candidate in 2018.

Explaining his decision, Sayeed said that given the rise of extremism, he believes BNP is the only party that should be advanced. He also confirmed submitting his nomination papers as an independent candidate for the upcoming national election from Pabna-1, adding that he will remain in the race if the party instructs him to do so.

Students of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) have boycotted all classes and examinations in protest against the suspension of the university’s central student union (ShakSU) election. They announced that they would not participate in any academic activities until the Chamber Judge Court grants permission for the election to proceed. The boycott began on Tuesday night through separate statements issued by students from different departments, following continuous demonstrations and sit-in programs on campus.

At a press conference held on Wednesday noon in front of the central library building, student leaders expressed frustration over the postponement. Delowar Hasan Shishir, vice president candidate from a Shibir-supported panel, said that the election was supposed to be held the previous day but was halted after two candidates and one voter filed a writ petition in the High Court. He claimed this deprived about 9,000 students of their democratic voting rights and demanded a prompt ruling in favor of the students. Independent general secretary candidate Faisal Hossain urged the court to exempt the ShakSU election from restrictions related to the national election period.

Students warned that if the court does not rule in their favor, they will announce a complete campus shutdown.