A total of 373,398 expatriate voters across various countries have received postal ballots to participate in Bangladesh’s upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election and referendum, according to the Election Commission (EC). Among them, 196,625 voters have already scanned their QR codes. The EC stated that these registered overseas voters will be able to cast their votes and send them back to Bangladesh after the allocation of election symbols on January 21.

Salim Ahmad Khan, team leader of the ‘OCV-SDI’ project on expatriate voter registration, confirmed that 5,126 ballots were returned to Bangladesh due to incorrect addresses or voters not being found at their listed locations. Earlier, the EC had completed sending postal ballots to 767,028 expatriate voters in 121 countries.

According to EC data, a total of 1,533,683 voters, both domestic and overseas, have registered through the ‘Postal Vote BD’ app. Election officials noted that after symbol allocation, expatriates must send their completed ballots by mail to the respective returning officers’ offices in Bangladesh.

Faruk-e-Azam, Adviser on Liberation War Affairs and Disaster Management, stated that a victory for the 'Yes' vote in the upcoming referendum would bring fundamental changes to the state structure and secure citizens' rights and freedoms. He made the remarks on Tuesday at a courtyard meeting in Fapor Pashchimpara of Bogura Sadar, organized to raise voter awareness ahead of the referendum and the 13th national parliamentary election.

The adviser emphasized that the interim government is temporary and neutral, with no political affiliation, and will leave after the election. He explained that if the 'Yes' vote wins, the prime minister’s tenure will be limited to ten years, the judiciary will become fully independent, and new courts will be established at divisional and upazila levels. He also said key constitutional bodies like the Public Service Commission and Anti-Corruption Commission would be formed through consensus with the opposition.

Faruk-e-Azam added that although the current government cannot implement the referendum’s outcome, any constitutional changes approved by the people would automatically take effect in the future. The event was attended by local officials, civil society representatives, and students.

The Election Commission of Bangladesh has directed the Ministry of Home Affairs to ensure security for Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman and six other party candidates until the election. A separate directive was also issued for BNP candidate Mojibur Rahman in Gazipur-1 constituency. The decision followed formal applications submitted to the commission, which were approved and forwarded to the ministry the next day.

The six other Jamaat candidates named in the directive are Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher, Mujibur Rahman, ATM Azharul Islam, Secretary General Professor Mia Golam Porwar, Assistant Secretary General Hamidur Rahman Azad, and Rafiqul Islam Khan. Election Commissioner Abdur Rahman Mashud confirmed that the letters were sent to the ministry after Jamaat’s request.

According to commission sources, security measures have been strengthened across all districts to ensure peaceful and uninterrupted election campaigns. Analysts believe the commission’s decision will help maintain a stable electoral environment.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has accused certain political groups of threatening to obstruct the upcoming national election despite having minimal public backing. He made the remarks on Tuesday at a discussion organized by the BNP at the Diploma Engineering Institution auditorium in Kakrail, Dhaka, marking the 90th birth anniversary of late President Ziaur Rahman. Fakhrul said that with only 23 days left before the election, some parties were loudly declaring they would not allow the polls to take place, even though they lacked significant voter support.

He emphasized that the BNP is eager to participate in the election and will accept the people’s verdict, whether in favor or against the party. Fakhrul also criticized those who, according to him, once denied Bangladesh’s existence and committed atrocities during the Liberation War. He stated that the country has reached its current position through great sacrifice and now faces an opportunity to restore democratic rights.

Addressing reform issues, Fakhrul said the BNP had proposed a 31-point reform plan two years before the government’s current campaign, asserting that reform initiatives originated from the BNP.

The National Implementation Committee on Administrative Reorganization (NICAR), chaired by Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, held its 119th meeting and the first under the interim government at the State Guest House Jamuna on Tuesday. The meeting, attended by six advisers and 14 secretaries including the Cabinet and Principal Secretaries, approved a total of 11 proposals related to administrative restructuring.

According to the Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam, the approved proposals include the creation of two new divisions under the Ministry of Finance—Revenue Policy Division and Revenue Management Division—to enhance transparency, accountability, and efficiency in revenue collection. The meeting also approved merging the Health Services Division and the Health Education and Family Welfare Division to form the restructured Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Additionally, the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs will be renamed the Ministry of Women and Children, though its English name will remain unchanged.

Other approvals include upgrading Satkhira to an “A” category district, establishing three new police stations in Gazipur, Narayanganj, and Cox’s Bazar, creating another police station in Narsingdi, and correcting the spelling of Bhulli Police Station in Thakurgaon.

The Chief Adviser has directed authorities to recover all looted and illegal weapons before the upcoming national election. The instruction came during a meeting of the National Implementation Committee on Administrative Reorganization (NIKAR) held in Dhaka, where the Chief Adviser emphasized that the recovery must be completed as quickly as possible ahead of the polls. The meeting also discussed preparations for the election scheduled for February 12.

According to the Press Secretary, the government is installing CCTV cameras at nearly 42,000 polling centers across the country to ensure transparency and security. Of these, 21,946 centers identified as highly important or risky will receive special funding of Tk 71.98 crore from the Finance Ministry, with at least six cameras per center. Local administrations will fund installations at the remaining centers. Efforts are underway nationwide, with some districts nearing full completion.

Officials confirmed that 299 polling centers without electricity will receive solar power or generator support. The government reiterated that the election will be held on schedule and pledged full support to the Election Commission for a free, fair, and peaceful vote.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has described the upcoming 13th National Parliament election as a tough test for his party and for Bangladesh’s liberal democratic forces. Speaking on Tuesday at a discussion marking the 90th birth anniversary of BNP founder and late President Ziaur Rahman at the Diploma Engineers Institute auditorium in Dhaka, Fakhrul said the election would determine whether the country remains under liberal democratic leadership or falls into the hands of extremist and anti-state elements.

He emphasized that BNP seeks an election and will accept the people’s verdict, pledging to go to the voters with the party’s 31-point program, Tarique Rahman’s new eight-point plan, and initiatives like the Family Card and Farmers Card. Fakhrul said victory for BNP’s symbol, the paddy sheaf, would be a true tribute to Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda Zia. He also criticized Jamaat-e-Islami’s past political role and urged all parties to practice honest politics without exploiting religion.

Fakhrul reiterated that BNP first proposed state reforms through Vision 2030 and the 31-point plan, calling reform their “brainchild” and stressing consensus for the nation’s greater interest.

Hedayet Ali Shah Fakir, chairman of Itakhola Union Parishad and vice president of the district Krishak League, joined the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in Nilphamari. The event took place on Tuesday afternoon at the municipal market office in the district town, where he formally joined by presenting flowers to BNP candidate for Nilphamari-2 constituency, Engineer Shahrin Islam Chowdhury Tuhin. Along with him, nine union parishad members also joined the party.

During his speech, Hedayet Ali Shah Fakir expressed pride in joining under Tuhin’s leadership, describing him as a blessing for the area and emphasizing the need for development in Nilphamari. District BNP leaders, including convener Mir Selim Faruk and member secretary A.H.M. Saifullah Rubel, were present at the event.

In his address, Tuhin outlined plans to make Nilphamari an illiteracy-free district and develop it as a center for education and healthcare. He also announced a plan to create employment for 100,000 people and pledged to make Nilphamari the best district in Rangpur Division within five years if elected.

A total of 15,345 voters in Habiganj district have registered to cast their votes through postal ballots in the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election and referendum. According to District Election Officer Anwar Mahmud, the registered voters include government and private sector employees working in different parts of the country, officials on election duty, and expatriates living abroad. The Election Commission will send symbol-marked ballot papers for the parliamentary election and separate pink ballots for the referendum to the registered voters by mail.

Seat-wise data show that Habiganj-1 (Nabiganj-Bahubal) has 4,297 postal voters, Habiganj-2 (Baniachang-Ajmiriganj) has 2,838, Habiganj-3 (Sadar-Lakhai-Shayestaganj) has 3,250, and Habiganj-4 (Madhabpur-Chunarughat) has 4,960. After voting, ballots must be mailed back to the respective returning officers following the prescribed procedure.

The counting of postal ballots will take place at 4:30 p.m. on February 12, after the close of voting, in the presence of candidates’ agents at the returning officer’s office.

Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus has instructed authorities to expedite the recovery of looted weapons ahead of the upcoming national election. The directive was conveyed by his Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam during a briefing held on Tuesday afternoon at the Foreign Service Academy auditorium. Earlier that morning, Dr. Yunus made the call during a meeting of the National Implementation Committee on Administrative Reorganization at his Jamuna residence.

According to the press secretary, the meeting also approved a proposal to rename the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs as the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs. The committee discussed several administrative restructuring proposals, totaling eleven, as part of ongoing governance reforms.

The emphasis on recovering stolen weapons reflects the caretaker administration’s focus on maintaining law and order before the election period, while the ministry’s renaming signals a move toward updated institutional terminology.

The Rural Electrification Board (REB) has initiated a large-scale campaign to encourage citizens to vote 'Yes' in the upcoming national referendum. The decision was made at a meeting held on Tuesday at the Chief Adviser’s Office, attended by Special Assistant Professor Ali Riaz and Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Adviser Muhammad Faozul Kabir Khan. The campaign aims to raise public awareness about the referendum and promote participation across the country.

As part of the initiative, REB will distribute leaflets titled 'The Key of the Country is in Your Hands' to 37.2 million customers by February 7, explaining the rationale for voting 'Yes'. The plan also includes regional meetings with 1.8 million prepaid customers, loudspeaker announcements in rural areas, promotional activities on the Facebook pages of 80 rural electricity cooperatives, and drop-down banners at REB offices nationwide. Professor Ali Riaz stated that the people of Bangladesh desire a democratic and humane society and must be motivated to vote 'Yes' to achieve it.

The meeting was also attended by Special Assistant Monir Haidar, Power Division Secretary Farzana Momtaz, and REB Chairman Major General S.M. Zia-ul-Azim, with 417 field-level officials joining via Zoom.

U.S. President Donald Trump has posted several controversial images on his social media platform Truth Social, appearing to intensify his rhetoric about taking control of Greenland. Among the images is one showing the U.S. flag flying over Greenland, which has triggered renewed international discussion. Another post includes a screenshot of a message from French President Emmanuel Macron alongside an altered presentation board. The edited image, believed to be from August 2025, originally depicted the Ukraine conflict frontline but now shows U.S. flags over North America, Canada, and Greenland.

Trump also shared an illustration portraying himself planting the U.S. flag in Greenland, accompanied by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance. A sign in the image reads “Greenland: U.S. Territory, Established 2026.” Analysts cited by the report say the posts have reignited debate over Greenland’s sovereignty and the United States’ intentions.

The images have drawn attention to Washington’s stance toward Greenland, with observers noting that the posts could further strain international discussions about territorial sovereignty.

Jamaat-e-Islami has withdrawn its candidate from the Dhaka-18 constituency ahead of Bangladesh’s upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. Principal Ashraful Haque, the party’s nominated candidate, formally withdrew his nomination papers from the Election Commission office on Tuesday, expressing support for the National Citizen Party (NCP) candidate Ariful Islam Adib.

Earlier on Saturday, Ashraful Haque had announced his decision to step aside in favor of Adib, who serves as the convener of NCP’s Dhaka Metropolitan North unit. According to an NCP statement, Haque has long been active in the constituency and maintained close ties with local residents. The statement added that, in the interest of broader alliance unity, the Dhaka-18 seat was allocated to the NCP candidate.

The withdrawal reflects a strategic move within the electoral alliance, aiming to consolidate support in Dhaka-18 under a single candidate representing the coalition.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh is holding a meeting this Tuesday afternoon with representatives of 63 registered political parties ahead of the 13th National Parliament election and the upcoming referendum. The meeting is scheduled for 4 p.m. at the EC headquarters in Agargaon, Dhaka. According to the commission, the discussions will focus mainly on the functions of the ‘Postal Vote BD’ app and related issues. Chief Election Commissioner A M M Nasir Uddin, other election commissioners, the EC secretary, and senior officials will attend the session.

Before the meeting, Swedish Ambassador Niclas Wik will pay a courtesy call on the Chief Election Commissioner at 3 p.m. The commission stated that they will discuss various important matters concerning the forthcoming national election. Meanwhile, the withdrawal of nomination papers has been ongoing since morning at the Election Training Institute (ETI) building, and the EC will announce the total number of withdrawn nominations after 5 p.m.

The meeting is part of the EC’s preparations to ensure coordination with political parties and smooth management of election-related processes.

The High Court has set Wednesday, January 21, for the hearing of a writ petition filed by BNP candidate Manjurul Ahsan Munshi challenging the Election Commission’s decision that invalidated his nomination for the Comilla-4 constituency. The bench led by Justice Rajik Al Jalil fixed the date on Tuesday. Munshi’s legal team includes Advocate Ahsanul Karim, Barrister Hamidul Misbah, and Advocate Saifullah Al Mamun, while Hasnat Abdullah is represented by Barrister Ehsan Abdullah Siddiqi and others.

Earlier, on January 17, the Election Commission (EC) accepted an appeal by National Citizen Party (NCP) candidate Hasnat Abdullah, who alleged that Munshi concealed information about being a loan defaulter. Following the EC’s decision, Munshi’s nomination was declared invalid. Before that, the returning officer had approved his nomination as valid.

Munshi’s petition seeks to overturn the EC’s January 17 decision and restore his candidacy. The High Court’s ruling on Wednesday will determine whether he can contest the election in Comilla-4.