A total of 610 appeals have been submitted to the Election Commission (EC) challenging the returning officers’ decisions on nomination acceptance and rejection for the 13th National Parliament election. Of these, 600 appeals contest the rejection of nomination papers, while 10 challenge accepted nominations. On the final day of submission, 141 appeals were filed by 6:45 p.m. Many candidates were seen waiting at EC booths to submit their applications.

The hearings will be conducted by Chief Election Commissioner A.M.M. Nasiruddin and his team in the basement of the Election Building in Agargaon. Proceedings will begin on Saturday and continue until January 18, with hearings held in two sessions daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The EC expects to hear about 70 appeals per day, following the order of submission.

According to EC sources, most appellants are independent or political party candidates whose nominations were rejected. Returning officers had earlier canceled 723 nominations, leaving 1,842 valid candidates for the upcoming election.

BNP candidate Manjurul Ahsan Munshi has filed a petition with the Election Commission seeking cancellation of the nomination of National Citizens Party (NCP) leader Hasnat Abdullah in the Comilla-4 (Debidwar) constituency for the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. The petition, submitted on Friday, January 9, alleges inconsistencies in Hasnat’s affidavit, discrepancies in his asset statement, failure to submit his wife’s tax return, and lack of clear evidence regarding the source of his election expenses, which the petitioner claims constitute criminal offenses under election law.

Separately, the Chamber Court suspended a High Court order that had earlier removed Manjurul Ahsan Munshi’s name from the list of loan defaulters, effectively preventing him from contesting the election. The Chamber Court order was issued by Justice Md Rezaul Haque following an appeal by Premier Bank authorities. The High Court bench of Justice A.K.M. Rabiul Hasan had previously stayed Munshi’s inclusion in the defaulter list.

The final day for appeals against acceptance or rejection of nomination papers is today, with hearings scheduled from January 10 to 18. Both candidates could not be reached for comment.

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has suspended the Election Commission’s (EC) boundary-related gazette concerning Pabna-1 and Pabna-2 constituencies. The order, issued on January 5 by a bench led by Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury, halts the EC’s revised notification of December 24 that had reinstated earlier boundaries. However, the court clarified that this suspension does not obstruct the upcoming elections in these constituencies.

The EC had originally published a final delimitation gazette on September 4, 2025, defining Pabna-1 as comprising the entire Santhia upazila and Pabna-2 as including Sujanagar and Bera upazilas. Following legal challenges by residents of Bera and Santhia, the High Court declared parts of the EC’s gazette unlawful on December 18, 2025, and directed the EC to restore the previous boundaries within 24 hours. The EC complied on December 24, but both the Commission and Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Barrister Mohammad Nazibur Rahman appealed the ruling.

The Appellate Division’s suspension means the September 4 gazette remains in effect, keeping Santhia as Pabna-1 and Sujanagar and Bera as Pabna-2. The EC confirmed that reports of election postponement are incorrect.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General and former MP Mia Golam Parwar said that voting is a sacred trust that must be given only to honest and capable individuals. Speaking on Friday, January 9, 2026, at several voter gatherings in Dumuria upazila under Khulna-5 constituency, he warned that entrusting votes to dishonest or corrupt people would make voters complicit in wrongdoing. He emphasized that every vote carries equal value, from a rickshaw puller to the president, and that this power should not be handed to those who misuse it for extortion or oppression.

Parwar stated that if more than half of the 300 parliamentary seats were filled by honest and God-fearing individuals, justice-based governance could be established nationwide. He said twelve political parties, including six Islamic and six patriotic groups, are jointly contesting the upcoming election. Addressing concerns from minority communities, he assured that Jamaat’s rise to power would not harm Hindu religious or cultural rights, claiming that Islamic governance would bring welfare to all citizens.

He urged voters to campaign door-to-door, encourage women’s participation, and reject parties that failed to ensure integrity over the past 54 years.

Islami Chhatra Andolan Bangladesh’s central president, Muntasir Ahmad, stated that the brutal killing of Shaheed Osman Hadi was not an isolated incident but a reflection of ongoing impunity in the state. Speaking on Friday after Juma prayers at the north gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, he warned that if the killers were not brought to justice even after one month, the interim government and the state could not avoid responsibility.

Ahmad emphasized that the current state system stands on the sacrifices of July’s martyrs and fighters, and failure to ensure justice for Hadi would question the moral legitimacy of the state. He urged that if justice is denied, people would be compelled to return to the streets, and the state must bear that consequence.

He further linked the culture of impunity from Felani to Abrar to Osman Hadi, saying it has endangered national sovereignty and independence under foreign dominance. The event, an anti-hegemony march and rally, was led by Secretary General Sultan Mahmud, with several central leaders present.

The Election Commission (EC) has clarified that reports claiming the postponement of elections in Pabna-1 and Pabna-2 constituencies due to boundary complications are incorrect. In a press note issued by the Press Information Department on Friday, January 9, the EC stated that no decision had been made to postpone the elections and requested the withdrawal or suspension of such reports.

According to the source, on January 5, the Appellate Division suspended parts of the EC’s December 24 revised notification concerning the reinstatement of previous boundaries for the two constituencies. Following this, several media outlets reported that the elections had been postponed, citing Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud. He clarified that the elections themselves were not postponed, but the electoral activities would remain suspended until further orders from the court.

The EC reiterated that the commission had not decided to postpone the elections and emphasized that only the court’s order temporarily halted related activities.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that U.S. President Donald Trump would ultimately be ousted from power. Speaking on state television on Friday, Khamenei accused foreign-backed forces of trying to destabilize Iran and compared Trump to past dictators who fell from power. He said Iran would not retreat in the face of unrest and urged the nation’s youth to remain united and prepared to confront enemies.

The warning came as protests over rising living costs intensified across Iran, with reports of government buildings being set on fire. Internet monitoring group NetBlocks reported that Iranian authorities shut down nationwide internet access late Thursday, keeping the country offline for about 12 hours to suppress demonstrations. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency said at least 34 protesters and four security personnel had been killed, and around 2,200 people arrested during the unrest.

The developments highlight escalating tensions between Iran’s leadership and protesters, as well as renewed friction with the United States over accusations of foreign interference.

Bangladesh’s interim government foreign affairs adviser Md. Touhid Hossain and Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held their second telephone conversation within three days, according to Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The ministry announced on Facebook on January 8, 2026, that the two leaders discussed bilateral matters and recent regional developments. They also praised the convening of the upcoming OIC Council of Foreign Ministers session scheduled for January 10, 2026, in Jeddah.

Earlier, on January 4, Ishaq Dar had called Touhid Hossain while attending the seventh Pakistan-China strategic dialogue in Beijing. During that conversation, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing cooperation between Bangladesh and Pakistan. They also exchanged views on recent developments in Asia and the Middle East and agreed to maintain close communication between the two countries.

The repeated contact between the two officials highlights ongoing diplomatic engagement and mutual interest in strengthening bilateral ties and regional collaboration.

Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Imran Haider, met with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) acting chairman, Tarique Rahman, on Friday afternoon. The meeting took place at the BNP chairperson’s office in Gulshan, Dhaka. The BNP’s verified Facebook page shared a photo of the meeting, describing it as a courtesy call between the two figures.

According to the post, the meeting was held at the BNP’s Gulshan office, where the Pakistani envoy paid a courtesy visit to Tarique Rahman. The report did not specify the topics discussed or the duration of the meeting. The event was reported by the online edition of the newspaper “Amar Desh.”

No further details were provided about the content of the discussion or any official statements from either side following the meeting.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman’s upcoming visit to Bogura has stirred significant excitement among local party leaders and activists. According to the schedule, he will leave Dhaka on the morning of January 11, traveling by road through Tangail and Sirajganj, and is expected to reach Bogura around 9 p.m. that night. He will stay overnight at the Naz Garden Hotel, a decision confirmed by district BNP president Rezaul Karim Badsha after earlier speculation about a stay at the newly established five-star Mom-Inn Hotel.

Hotel sources said preparations are underway to receive the BNP leader, while the district BNP is coordinating security and crowd management during his stay. On January 12 at 10:30 a.m., Tarique Rahman will attend a public prayer event at Bogura Central High School field, which was finalized after earlier consideration of Altafunnesa playground as a possible venue.

Following the event, he will travel to Rangpur to visit the grave of July War hero Shaheed Abu Sayeed, and then continue his tour through Dinajpur, Panchagarh, Thakurgaon, and Kurigram before returning to Dhaka.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that those acting as mercenaries for foreign powers and causing harm to people and property will not be tolerated. In a speech broadcast on state television, he accused foreign forces of trying to destabilize Iran and alleged that some rioters were seeking to please U.S. President Donald Trump. Khamenei said Trump would eventually fall, comparing him to past arrogant rulers, and asserted that Iran would not retreat in the face of unrest.

He further claimed that the U.S. president’s hands were stained with the blood of thousands of Iranians and urged his supporters to remain united and prepared, emphasizing that a united nation can defeat any enemy. His remarks came as anti-government protests, which began on December 28, spread across Iran.

The demonstrations started when merchants at Tehran’s Grand Bazaar closed their shops to protest rising living costs, later drawing participation from various social groups across the country.

Dhaka University is proceeding with steps to permanently expel four teachers reportedly aligned with the Awami League. The university’s highest policy-making body, the Syndicate, reached this decision during a meeting held on Thursday, January 8. The Syndicate resolved to issue show-cause notices asking the teachers why they should not be permanently dismissed from their positions.

The four teachers named are Professor Zinat Huda, Professor A K M Jamal Uddin, Professor Sadeka Halim, and Professor Moshior Rahman, all from the Department of Sociology. According to the university’s Proctor, Professor Dr. Saifuddin Ahmed, formal charges have been framed against them, and the show-cause notices will be issued accordingly.

The Syndicate’s decision marks a significant disciplinary move within Dhaka University, signaling a formal process toward permanent expulsion pending the teachers’ responses to the show-cause notices.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has convened an emergency meeting of the party’s Standing Committee. The meeting is scheduled to take place at 9:30 p.m. on Friday night at the BNP Chairperson’s political office in Gulshan, according to Standing Committee member Dr. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain. Tarique Rahman will preside over the session.

A senior BNP leader stated that the meeting was not part of the committee’s regular schedule and therefore has no fixed agenda. However, the leader emphasized that the meeting is considered important. The announcement underscores the urgency of internal discussions within the BNP leadership.

No further details were provided about the specific issues to be discussed or the expected outcomes of the meeting.

The National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) of Bangladesh has made major revisions to the 2026 academic textbooks for primary and secondary levels. The new editions, distributed from January 1, include significant changes to the portrayal of the Liberation War, the declaration of independence, subsequent political developments, and the 2024 July uprising. In the revised Bangladesh and Global Studies books for grades six through ten, Ziaur Rahman is identified as the proclaimer of independence on March 26, 1971, replacing earlier references to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The books also describe Zia’s political, agricultural, and economic contributions.

The updated textbooks omit Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s March 7 speech and remove terms such as “Father of the Nation” and “Bangabandhu.” They newly include accounts of the 2024 July uprising, Sheikh Hasina’s fall, and descriptions of her rule as authoritarian. The revisions were approved by the National Curriculum Coordination Committee following recommendations from experts and the interim government’s directive.

According to NCTB officials, the goal of these changes is to present a balanced and realistic depiction of Bangladesh’s political history and to free textbooks from exaggerated or imposed narratives.

The government has taken all necessary measures to ensure a level playing field for the upcoming 13th National Parliament Election, according to Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam. Speaking on Friday afternoon after visiting the Shibbari Temple in Mymensingh and exchanging greetings with members of the Hindu community, he said there has been no visible incident suggesting the absence of a fair environment. He added that all political parties, large and small, currently enjoy equal opportunities in the electoral process.

Shafiqul Alam emphasized that Bangladesh is a country of communal harmony where people of all religions and communities live together peacefully. He condemned recent attacks on shrines under various pretexts, calling them highly reprehensible. Earlier in the day, he visited the shrine of Hazrat Shah Sufi Syed Kalu Shah (R.) at Bura Pir’s shrine and ghat area on Jubilee Road in Mymensingh.

The press secretary reiterated that the government remains committed to maintaining a fair electoral environment and social harmony across the country.