Ahead of Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary election and national referendum, a four-day public holiday has prompted a massive exodus from Dhaka and industrial areas. Since Tuesday morning, heavy traffic congestion has been reported at Paturia and Aricha ferry terminals, as well as along the Dhaka–Tangail highway, where a 32-kilometer tailback has caused severe delays. Authorities are struggling to manage the surge in passengers and vehicles, with scenes reminiscent of the Eid travel rush.

Local correspondents report that many factories have declared three consecutive days off, allowing workers to return to their hometowns to vote and visit families. The sudden increase in travelers has led to overcrowded ferries and buses, with some transport operators accused of charging inflated fares. Passengers expressed frustration over the high costs and long waits, while police confirmed that additional forces have been deployed to ease congestion and prevent passenger harassment.

Officials from the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation and transport owners expressed optimism that the situation would normalize later in the day as traffic flow improves.

A mock drill was conducted in various areas of Chakaria upazila under the Cox’s Bazar-1 (Chakaria–Pekua) constituency to identify and mitigate potential risks ahead of the upcoming 13th National Parliament election and referendum. The exercise took place on Tuesday, February 10, following a coordination meeting at the office of the Assistant Returning Officer and Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO). The meeting, chaired by UNO Shahin Delwar, was attended by Major Maruful Islam of the Bangladesh Army’s 39 BST, Chakaria Police Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Monir Hossain, and officials from BGB, Ansar, and election authorities.

Following the meeting, officials jointly observed the field drill aimed at ensuring smooth and peaceful voting. According to OC Monir Hossain, all necessary preparations have been completed by the local administration and law enforcement agencies for the February 12 election and referendum. Security measures include installing CCTV cameras at 130 polling centers across Chakaria and equipping security personnel with body-worn cameras.

Officials stated that the mock drill will help authorities respond swiftly and effectively to any situation that may arise at polling centers during the election.

Hasnat Abdullah, the Jamaat-NCP alliance candidate for the Comilla-4 (Debidwar) constituency, will cast his vote at his designated polling center during the 13th National Parliamentary Election scheduled for Thursday, February 12. Party sources confirmed that he plans to be present at the polling station from the morning and will be among the first to exercise his voting rights.

According to the report, Abdullah will vote at Gopalnagar High School polling center in Ward No. 3 of Rasulpur Union under Debidwar upazila. His decision to vote in his own village center has reportedly generated enthusiasm among party leaders and supporters. Local stakeholders expressed optimism that the voting process will take place in a peaceful and festive atmosphere.

The report highlights that preparations are underway for the election in Comilla-4, with expectations of orderly participation from voters and candidates alike.

In Habiganj district, women voters have become a key electoral factor ahead of the 13th parliamentary election. Out of 1.8 million registered voters, about 49 percent are women, yet they remain disadvantaged in access to opportunities and recognition despite their significant role in the local economy. Many women, including tea workers, factory employees, entrepreneurs, and students, expressed hopes for a government that will prioritize their welfare and create a more inclusive environment.

Tea garden workers such as Basanti Bakti from Deundi Tea Estate said they want representatives who will improve the lives of marginalized laborers. Female factory workers in Shayestaganj’s Olipur area called for a women-friendly government and safer workplaces. Entrepreneur Nazma Akter urged for more support programs for women-led businesses, while students and teachers emphasized the need for fair elections, safety in public transport, and a gender-sensitive society.

Habiganj has four parliamentary constituencies with 902,853 female voters, 915,740 male voters, and 24 transgender voters. Many women believe their collective voice could influence the election outcome and shape future policies toward gender equality.

Political tension has peaked in the Barishal-3 (Babuganj–Muladi) parliamentary constituency ahead of the February 12 election. The seat, comprising two key upazilas, has long been of strategic importance to major parties due to its geographic and transport significance. With the Awami League largely absent from the field, the main contest has emerged among the BNP, Jatiya Party, and the 11-party alliance candidate from Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party.

BNP’s vice chairman Zainul Abedin is contesting to reclaim the party’s traditional stronghold despite internal rifts. The Jatiya Party, led locally by imprisoned former MP Golam Kibria Tipu, is seeking to attract female and pro-alliance voters, while his daughter Habiba Kibria has been campaigning on his behalf. Meanwhile, AB Party’s central secretary Barrister Asaduzzaman Fuad has mobilized grassroots support through the 11-party alliance, including Jamaat-e-Islami’s organized network.

Analysts suggest that if voting proceeds freely and fairly, the final result will hinge on independent and neutral voters whose decisions could determine the balance of power in this closely contested race.

The BNP Media Cell has expressed deep sorrow over the death of Ali Mamud, a journalist for the daily Dinkal and a member of the party’s media wing. In a condolence message issued on Tuesday, the cell’s convener Dr. Mowdud Hossain Alamgir Pavel said the organization was deeply saddened by the loss of a devoted colleague. The statement described Ali Mamud as a sincere journalist and a wise, responsible member of the BNP Media Cell.

According to the message, Ali Mamud’s contributions to party activities and his support for democracy and independent journalism were highly commendable. The BNP Media Cell said his death marked the loss of a dedicated comrade within the organization.

The statement also conveyed prayers for the departed soul and extended sympathy to his bereaved family, colleagues, and well-wishers.

A complaint has been filed against BNP candidate Engineer Zakir Hossain Sarkar in Kushtia-3 (Sadar) constituency for allegedly violating the electoral code of conduct by hanging campaign posters. The complaint was lodged on Tuesday evening with the Election Inquiry and Judicial Committee by Iqbal Hossain, a resident of Patikabari village in Sadar upazila.

According to the complaint, Zakir Hossain Sarkar, nominated by the BNP for the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election, displayed posters featuring his image and election symbol on electric poles and trees along the paved road from Taher Mor to the local market in Patikabari. The complainant urged the authorities to take prompt legal action regarding the matter.

The report indicates that the issue has been formally brought to the attention of the relevant election authorities for consideration and possible enforcement of electoral regulations.

Sheikh Neamul Karim, a Jamaat candidate in Nalchity, Jhalakathi, visited the graves of Selim Talukder and the father of Sharif Osman bin Hadi to honor the martyrs of the July uprising. During the visit, he offered prayers for their souls and expressed deep respect and sympathy to their families. The event took place on Tuesday and drew attention at the local level.

Selim Talukder, a resident of South Mallikpur village in Nalchity, was killed by police gunfire during an anti-discrimination student and public movement in Dhaka on July 31, 2024. His wife, Sumi Akter, was pregnant at the time and later gave birth to a daughter. Sharif Osman bin Hadi, convener of Inquilab Moncho, was killed by an assailant’s bullet. Sheikh Neamul Karim also met with the families of the martyrs and inquired about their well-being.

Many locals viewed the visit as a humanitarian and respectful gesture. Sheikh Neamul Karim has previously stated that if elected, he would donate his parliamentary salary to welfare and poverty alleviation efforts in his constituency.

The Bangladesh government and Election Commission have launched one of the largest and most technology-driven security operations in the country’s history ahead of the upcoming national election. Based on intelligence assessments and past experiences, 3,155 of the 43,700 polling centers have been designated as high-risk due to potential violence, unrest, or sabotage. A total of 900,000 personnel from eight security forces, including police, army, BGB, Ansar, RAB, navy, air force, coast guard, and fire service, have been deployed nationwide for seven days covering the pre-election, election, and post-election periods.

The plan includes 25,500 body-worn cameras, 1,000 drones, and 50 dog squads for real-time monitoring and incident response. Cameras equipped with artificial intelligence and facial recognition will stream live footage to a central command center, while GPS-enabled night vision devices will track field forces. In Dhaka alone, 25,000 police officers will secure 2,131 polling centers, with special attention to 37 high-risk locations. Authorities have also strengthened cyber monitoring to prevent misinformation and have set up layered security for ballot transport and storage.

Officials stated that the goal is to ensure voter safety, maintain public confidence, and prevent any disruption to the electoral process.

A joint security patrol and drill involving the Bangladesh Army, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), police, and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) was conducted in Gazipur-4 (Kapasia) constituency on Tuesday, February 10, 2026. The exercise began at 12:30 p.m. in front of the offices of the Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Assistant Returning Officer, led by executive magistrates. The patrol covered key roads and bus terminals in Durgapur, Kapasia Sadar, and Targao unions before returning to the Upazila Complex.

According to the local administration, the objective of the joint operation was to build voter confidence, ensure a peaceful electoral environment, and prevent any untoward incidents ahead of the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. After the drill, each law enforcement unit was deployed to its designated area to maintain order.

Officials stated that strict monitoring and security measures would continue so that voters can cast their ballots without fear. The administration also reaffirmed a zero-tolerance policy against any activities that could disrupt peace and order, noting that the overall situation in Kapasia remains stable and under control.

A delegation from the Commonwealth Observer Group, led by Nana Addo Akufo-Addo, met with Inspector General of Police Baharul Alam at the Police Headquarters in Dhaka on Tuesday. The meeting focused on security issues related to the upcoming national parliamentary election. The group’s head noted that 25 observers from the Commonwealth would participate in monitoring the election and inquired about security measures for the observers during the election period.

During the discussion, the IGP outlined the police’s comprehensive preparations to maintain law and order during the election. He detailed risk-based security planning, cyber monitoring, and the use of modern technology to ensure safety. Baharul Alam emphasized that all necessary security measures had been taken following directives from the Election Commission and the Ministry of Home Affairs to protect foreign observers and journalists. Senior police officials were also present at the meeting.

The meeting underscored coordination between law enforcement and international observers ahead of the national election, highlighting Bangladesh’s efforts to ensure a secure electoral environment.

The Ministry of Defense of Bangladesh has issued an order granting government benefits to 141 officers of the armed forces who were deprived of service rights between 2009 and August 4, 2024. The order, signed by Secretary Md. Ashraf Uddin on February 5, 2026, covers officers from the Bangladesh Army, Navy, and Air Force who faced dismissal, forced retirement, or suspension during that period. The directive includes provisions for retrospective promotions, payment of arrears, and other applicable allowances.

According to the order, 110 officers were from the Army, 19 from the Navy, and 12 from the Air Force. The government formed a committee to review their cases after receiving applications from the affected officers. Following the review, the authorities approved the restoration of their due benefits. Specific officers, including Lt. Gen. Md. Aminul Karim, Lt. Gen. Sina Ibne Jamali, Brig. Gen. Abdullahil Aman Azmi, and others, were granted financial compensation and promotions. Some officers were also recommended for flats under the Jolsiri housing project.

The decision marks a formal resolution of long-standing grievances among retired officers who alleged discrimination and injustice during the previous regime.

Bangladesh will hold general elections on February 12, 2026, to choose its next government, 18 months after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was forced from office by a student-led uprising. Hasina, who ruled from 1996 to 2001 and again from 2009 until her exile in August 2024, left power following a deadly crackdown on protesters that killed about 1,400 people. Since then, an interim administration led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has governed the country.

The 2026 vote is considered one of the most consequential in Bangladesh’s 55-year history. The Awami League, Hasina’s party, has been suspended from contesting, leaving 51 of 59 registered parties fielding candidates. Major contenders include the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) led by Tarique Rahman, the Islamic Jamaat-e-Islami allied with the National Citizen Party (NCP), and newer centrist groups such as the NCP and Amar Bangladesh Party. Nearly 5 million first-time voters are expected to participate among the 56 million aged 18 to 37.

Bangladesh’s political history has been marked by alternating rule between the Awami League and BNP, military interventions, and disputed elections. The upcoming polls will test whether the country can transition from years of repression and unrest toward a more inclusive democratic process.

Leqaa Kordia’s family has demanded her release after the 33-year-old was hospitalised following a seizure while in immigration detention in Texas. For over 12 hours, her relatives and lawyers said they received no information about her condition or whereabouts. Kordia, who has been detained for nearly a year, was among protesters targeted by immigration officials after participating in pro-Palestine demonstrations at Columbia University in 2024. She remains the only person from that group still in custody.

Amnesty International joined calls for her release, arguing that she has been arbitrarily detained for exercising her right to free speech. Her lawyers said federal judges twice ruled she was eligible for bond, but immigration officials blocked her release through discretionary stays. The Department of Homeland Security has maintained that Kordia was detained for overstaying her student visa, though its earlier statement linked her arrest to pro-Palestine advocacy.

Kordia’s family and advocates have described deteriorating health and poor conditions at the Prairieland Detention Facility, where she is held far from her family in New Jersey. Supporters say her case highlights broader concerns about the treatment of pro-Palestinian activists under current immigration policies.

In Kushtia, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, owner of Subarna Agro Food Products Limited and described as an Awami League-aligned rice trader, has canceled all staff leave for February 12, 2026, the day of the national parliamentary election. A notice issued at the company stated that no employee would be granted leave on election day and that absence would result in salary deductions for that day.

When asked about the notice, Jinnah claimed he did not issue it and said that employees had done so. He did not respond when questioned about his signature on the document. The report notes that Jinnah is known to be close to Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif.

The directive has drawn attention because it coincides with the national election day, raising questions about workers’ ability to participate in voting, though no official reaction was mentioned in the report.