Jamaat-e-Islami has withdrawn its candidate from the Dhaka-18 constituency ahead of Bangladesh’s upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election.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ongoing since morning at the Election Training Institute (ETI) building, and the EC will announce the total number of withdrawn nominations after 5 p.m.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.

Ambassadors from Russia, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway held separate courtesy meetings with BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman on Tuesday afternoon at his political office in Gulshan, Dhaka. The discussions took place in a cordial atmosphere, according to BNP Joint Secretary General and Foreign Affairs Advisory Committee member Humayun Kabir, who briefed reporters afterward.

Kabir said the international community has shown special interest in Tarique Rahman and his views on Bangladesh’s development. The meetings focused on how to work together based on mutual cooperation while prioritizing Bangladesh’s national interests. He added that if the BNP comes to power through the February 12 national election, the party intends to maintain diplomatic relations and engage with the international community in line with its 31-point program.

Kabir clarified that no specific issues regarding the election were discussed, though the ambassadors expressed optimism about Bangladesh’s democratic process and its post-election trajectory. BNP officials Saleh Shibli, Mahadi Amin, and Rashedul Haque were also present during the meetings.

A discussion meeting and prayer gathering were held in Parshuram, Feni, on Tuesday, January 20, to mark the 90th birth anniversary of late President Ziaur Rahman. The event took place at a local auditorium and was organized by the upazila and municipal units of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) along with its affiliated organizations. Abdul Halim Manik, convener of the upazila BNP and former union parishad chairman, presided over the program, while Abu Taleb, a member of the BNP’s national executive committee, attended as the chief guest.

The event was conducted by Mahbubul Haque Majumdar and Abul Khayer Liton, with several BNP leaders including Ibrahim Khalil Moni, Habibur Rahman Habib, and Kazi Yusuf Mahfuz attending as special guests. In his speech, Abu Taleb said that Ziaur Rahman had established the BNP as a people’s party and sacrificed his life for the country’s independence and sovereignty. He urged party members to work toward implementing the ideals left by Ziaur Rahman.

The gathering reflected the BNP’s continued efforts to honor its founder’s legacy through local organizational activities.

The Jahangirnagar University Central Students’ Union (JAKSU) has expressed deep concern and strong condemnation over the court’s suspension of the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) student council election. In a joint statement signed by JAKSU Vice President Abdur Rashid Jitu and General Secretary Md. Majharul Islam on Monday midnight, the organization criticized the legal and political interference that halted the long-awaited election.

According to the statement, the election was postponed just before voting despite the participation of 196 candidates and thousands of students preparing for a festive democratic exercise. JAKSU described the four-week suspension, issued following a petition by three applicants, as regrettable and contrary to students’ democratic rights. The leaders argued that student unions are vital for leadership development and that obstructing this process for political gain reflects authoritarian tendencies.

JAKSU further urged the removal of all legal and political barriers to ensure the SUST student council election is held as soon as possible, emphasizing that depriving students of their voting rights under any pretext is unacceptable.

Jamaat-e-Islami has announced it will contest 215 constituencies in the upcoming 13th parliamentary election as part of a 10-party alliance, leaving 85 seats for allied parties. The decision was confirmed on Tuesday, the final day for withdrawal of nomination papers. Earlier, Jamaat had planned to contest 179 seats, reserving 47 for Islami Andolan, but the latter did not join the alliance.

Following Islami Andolan’s absence, the previously reserved seats were redistributed among other partners including the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, Khelafat Majlis, LDP, AB Party, BDP, and Nezame Islam Party. According to reports, NCP received 30 seats, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis 23, and Khelafat Majlis 12, with some additional seats still open. Jamaat’s Assistant Secretary General Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair stated that final details would be announced after the nomination withdrawal deadline.

Political analysts noted that although Jamaat’s seat share increased due to Islami Andolan’s withdrawal, the party allocated a significant number of constituencies to partners to maintain balance within the alliance.

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis candidate Mofazzal Hossain has formally withdrawn his nomination for the Comilla-4 (Debidwar) constituency to support Hasnat Abdullah, the Jamaat–NCP alliance candidate and chief organizer of NCP’s southern region. The withdrawal took place on Tuesday morning when Hossain submitted his application to Assistant Returning Officer and Debidwar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Rakibul Islam.

Following the withdrawal, Mofazzal Hossain stated that his decision followed the central directive to strengthen unity within the ten-party alliance. He described Hasnat Abdullah as a qualified leader whose leadership contributes to a democratic environment. Hossain also urged party members to vote for Hasnat under the ‘Shapla Koli’ symbol on the upcoming 12th.

The event was attended by leaders and activists from Jamaat, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, and NCP, including Saiful Islam Shahid, the Jamaat candidate who had earlier withdrawn from the same constituency.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has alleged that a political party is making provocative statements surrounding the upcoming national election. He made the remarks on Tuesday afternoon, emphasizing that the BNP supports reform and the 'yes' vote, while accusing another party of spreading misinformation.

According to Mirza Fakhrul, the chief adviser has launched a campaign under the banner of reform, but certain groups are engaging in propaganda. He also stated that those who once refused to recognize Bangladesh are now causing the most trouble. The BNP leader described the forthcoming national election as a decisive moment to determine whether the country will remain under liberal democratic leadership or fall into the hands of extremist, anti-state elements.

The comments come amid heightened political activity and competing narratives ahead of the national polls, reflecting growing tension between major political forces in Bangladesh.

Bihar legislator Nitin Navin has been elected as the new national president of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The announcement was made on Tuesday, January 20, 2026. Following the nomination process, 37 nomination papers were submitted in his favor, and no other candidate contested, leading to his unopposed election to the top party post.

Navin, aged 45, previously served as the acting national president of the BJP. He has been elected five times as a legislator from Patna West (Bankipur) in Bihar and has also held ministerial positions in the Bihar government. Analysts view his appointment as a signal of organizational renewal within the BJP and a step toward advancing the party’s future strategic goals.

The formal ceremony for Nitin Navin’s assumption of office is scheduled for January 21, while senior party leaders have already extended their congratulations.

The Jagannath University Central Students’ Union (JAKSU) has strongly condemned the court-ordered suspension of the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) Central Students’ Union (SACSU) election, calling it undemocratic and conspiratorial. In a statement signed by JAKSU’s Assistant General Secretary Masud Rana and published on the union’s official Facebook group, the organization alleged that a political party had influenced the court to deprive students of their voting rights. The election, originally scheduled for January 20, was postponed for four weeks by court order.

JAKSU stated that the suspension violated students’ democratic rights and undermined their long struggle for representative leadership on campus. It claimed that a political student organization used power and influence to halt the democratic process. The statement described the incident as part of a broader pattern of interference in student union elections across universities, aimed at weakening student governance.

JAKSU urged the Election Commission, university administration, and all relevant authorities to act responsibly and ensure a fair, transparent, and inclusive SACSU election within the shortest possible time.

Jamaat-e-Islami has strongly condemned the killing and injuries of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) members in a terrorist attack during an operation in Sitakunda, Chattogram. The incident occurred on Monday afternoon, and the party’s Secretary General and former MP, Mia Golam Porwar, issued a statement on Tuesday expressing grief and protest.

In the statement, Porwar said one RAB officer was killed and three others were injured when armed assailants opened fire during an operation to arrest terrorists in the Jungle Salimpur area. He expressed condolences to the family of the deceased officer, DAD Md. Motaleb, and prayed for the recovery of the injured. Porwar also voiced concern over the deteriorating law and order situation and urged law enforcement to take firm action against terrorists.

He further stated that the attack indicated attempts by terrorists to regroup ahead of the upcoming 13th national election to create fear and disrupt a fair electoral environment. Porwar called on authorities to enforce a zero-tolerance policy, recover illegal weapons, and ensure a thorough investigation to bring those responsible to justice.

Jamaat-e-Islami will contest 215 constituencies in the upcoming 13th parliamentary election through a ten-party alliance, while candidates from other allied parties will compete in the remaining 85 seats. The decision was announced on Tuesday, the final day for withdrawal of nomination papers, according to party sources.

Previously, Jamaat-e-Islami had planned to contest 179 seats, reserving 47 for Islami Andolan and distributing the rest among NCP, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, Khelafat Majlis, LDP, AB Party, BDP, and Nezame Islam Party. However, after Islami Andolan decided not to join the alliance, its allocated seats were redistributed among the remaining partners.

According to the latest information, NCP has secured 30 seats, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis 23, and Khelafat Majlis 12, with some additional seats still open. Jamaat’s Assistant Secretary General and head of the central publicity and media department, Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, said final details would be announced later in the day after the nomination withdrawal deadline.

U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that he will fully implement tariffs on European countries opposing his plan to acquire Greenland. He announced that starting February 1, imports from the United Kingdom will face a 10 percent tariff, rising to 25 percent on June 1. The same tariffs will apply to seven NATO allies—Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Finland—until Denmark agrees to a deal for selling Greenland to the United States.

European nations have taken a united stance to defend Greenland’s sovereignty. Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said ownership cannot be claimed through threats, while the UK’s Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper stated that only Greenlanders and Denmark can decide Greenland’s future. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte affirmed that the alliance will continue working with Denmark and Greenland to ensure Arctic security.

The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, said the EU will not back down from its position and called an emergency meeting in Brussels on Thursday to coordinate responses. Denmark has warned that U.S. interference in Greenland could jeopardize NATO’s future.

Delegates from 30 countries, including the United States, India, China, Japan, and members of the European Union, attended the Jamaat-e-Islami Policy Summit 2026 held on Tuesday morning at Hotel Intercontinental in Dhaka. The event was organized by Jamaat-e-Islami’s foreign affairs department, which confirmed participation from representatives of 30 nations.

At the opening session, Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman presented the keynote paper, emphasizing that Bangladesh’s main challenge is not survival but ensuring stability. He outlined a political and economic roadmap for a new and prosperous Bangladesh ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election scheduled for February 12. Dr. Rahman described Bangladesh’s independence as a long and unfinished struggle for political freedom, economic emancipation, and human dignity.

He further stated that over the past 17 years, governance failures and authoritarian practices have weakened democratic institutions, reduced accountability, and restricted citizens’ voices. He noted that in July 2024, people, particularly the youth, stood up again to reclaim their rights and future.