Jagannath University (JnU) has declared a five-day holiday for its students in connection with the upcoming 13th National Parliament election and referendum. The university administration announced that the holiday will begin on February 10, 2026. Acting Registrar Professor Dr. Md. Sheikh Gias Uddin confirmed the decision on February 2, following an official notice signed by him detailing the schedule.

According to the notice, the Ministry of Public Administration declared February 11 and 12 as public holidays to facilitate voting and election activities. Based on that directive and by executive order of the Vice-Chancellor, February 10 was added as an additional holiday. Combined with the regular weekend on February 13 and 14, students will enjoy a continuous five-day break.

The university stated that normal academic and administrative operations will resume on February 15. The administration expects the extended holiday will help students exercise their voting rights smoothly and participate more easily in this national event.

Syeda Rizwana Hasan, adviser to the interim government’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Water Resources, said that no government would dare suppress journalists if professional journalism is established. She made the remarks on Monday at an event organized by the July Revolutionary Journalists’ Alliance (JRJA) at the National Press Club.

Hasan emphasized that journalists may have personal political views, but objectivity must guide their work. She noted that the constitution guarantees freedom of speech, expression, press, and association, and journalists should uphold these rights while working within the legal framework. She added that disagreements among journalists are natural, but the key is to ensure objective reporting. Analytical differences are acceptable as long as the reporting remains factual.

Regarding lawmaking, she said that draft laws related to broadcasting have been opened for public opinion and will be revised based on reasonable feedback. Hasan further stated that democracy is not established solely through elections and that journalism is a vital pillar in protecting it. She urged journalists to overcome allegations of shifting loyalties through professional best practices.

Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd.) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury announced that 100,000 army personnel will be deployed across Bangladesh to maintain law and order during the upcoming parliamentary election and referendum. He made the statement on Monday at a meeting on law and order held at the Barishal Shilpakala Academy auditorium. In addition to the army, 150,000 police, 5,000 navy, 37,000 Border Guard Bangladesh, 10,000 Rapid Action Battalion, 5,000 Coast Guard, and about 600,000 Ansar members will also be deployed.

The adviser said all necessary preparations have been completed to ensure a peaceful election. He emphasized the need for collective effort and responsibility from all involved to maintain peace and order. The number of Coast Guard and Navy personnel in coastal areas has been increased, and Bangladesh National Cadet Corps members will also be engaged. Body cameras, CCTV, drones, and a security app will be used to monitor activities and prevent crimes.

Home Secretary Nasimul Gani and senior government and law enforcement officials from six districts of the Barishal division attended the meeting.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has accused Jamaat-e-Islami of trying to prevent Bangladesh’s progress and of wanting to turn the country into Afghanistan. He made the remarks on Monday, February 2, during a campaign visit to his constituency in Dholarhat Union, Thakurgaon. Fakhrul alleged that Jamaat opposes women’s education and employment, seeking to confine them to their homes.

Referring to a recent post by the Jamaat Ameer on the social platform X, Fakhrul said that if the Ameer indeed made a misogynistic comment, it was wrong. He added that a country cannot be safe in the hands of those who lack respect for women. Fakhrul also claimed that Jamaat is threatening the Hindu community and urged everyone to move forward without fear.

The BNP leader, contesting from Thakurgaon-1, said that there is now an opportunity to build a just state. He emphasized that BNP wants a fair and inclusive electoral environment and called on voters to make the right decision to help the party form the next government.

The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement has announced a nationwide campaign supporting a 'Yes' vote in the upcoming February 12 referendum. At a press conference held in front of Dhaka University’s Madhur Canteen, the organization’s president Rifat Rashid detailed the campaign schedule and said agents would be appointed and their list published to ensure organized participation at polling centers.

Rashid stated that Bangladesh stands at a critical juncture following recent political developments, blaming power-hungry groups for repeated crises. He criticized the Consensus Commission’s reform proposals as unclear to the public and said the referendum questions were complex and undemocratic. Despite the interim government and commission’s failures, he viewed the referendum as an opportunity for partial reform.

The campaign will include rallies and meetings with families of martyrs across Rangpur, Rajshahi, Khulna, Barishal, Mymensingh, Sylhet, Chattogram, and Dhaka between February 3 and 10. Rashid emphasized that a 'Yes' victory is essential to establish a moral and political foundation for future reforms and to protect citizens’ voting rights.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has expelled 28 leaders and activists for violating party decisions and engaging in activities deemed anti-organizational. The expulsions, announced on Monday, February 2, 2026, were confirmed in a press release signed by Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. Those expelled include current and former leaders from district, upazila, and ward levels across Noakhali, Patuakhali, and Pirojpur districts. They have been removed from all party positions, including primary membership.

According to the BNP statement, the disciplinary action was taken against individuals accused of working against the party’s official candidates in the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. Party sources indicated that some of the expelled members supported independent candidates instead of those nominated by the BNP, prompting the leadership to enforce organizational discipline.

The announcement follows a broader internal crackdown within the BNP, as more leaders have reportedly faced expulsion for similar conduct related to rebel candidacies ahead of the national polls.

Professor Ali Riaz, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser with the rank of Adviser, stated that the July Charter was formulated to end the abuse of unchecked power and return ownership of the state to its citizens. Speaking on February 2, 2026, at a meeting in the Senate Building of Rajshahi University, he called on students to spread the message of the Charter across the country and encourage participation in the upcoming referendum.

Riaz explained that around 150,000 students in higher education institutions in the region could each motivate five others to vote in favor of change, potentially influencing 600,000 votes. He added that over 100,000 officials and employees could inspire another 500,000 people. He emphasized that the Charter seeks to prevent future autocracy and ensure that the sacrifices of the nation’s martyrs are not wasted.

He further outlined proposed reforms, including a 100-seat upper house in the constitution with proportional representation and a requirement of majority support for constitutional amendments. Riaz urged citizens to vote “yes” to make the state accountable and prevent concentration of power in one individual.

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) reported that at least 15 political activists were killed across the country within 36 days following the announcement of the 13th National Parliament election schedule. The report, released on Monday, stated that in 2025 there were 401 incidents of political violence resulting in 102 deaths, while 1,333 firearms went missing. TIB warned that the continued circulation of looted weapons and new firearm licenses for political figures could heighten the risk of further violence.

The study, titled “One and a Half Years After the Fall of Authoritarianism: Expectations and Achievements,” highlighted widespread violence, harassment of political workers, attacks on potential candidates, and over 50 assaults on minority communities. It also alleged violations of legal procedures in trials related to crimes against humanity during the July movement and raised concerns over arbitrary arrests, prolonged detentions, and politically influenced cases.

TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman cautioned that failure to control mob violence could affect the February 12 election. The organization criticized the government’s lack of effective strategies, warning that inaction and appeasement could lead to excessive concentration of power.

In the Gaibandha-5 (Saghata-Fulchhari) constituency, voters from the riverine char areas are expected to play a decisive role in the upcoming national election. The main issues dominating local discussions are the prevention of river erosion and the improvement of living standards through infrastructure development. Residents of the eight char unions along the Brahmaputra and Jamuna rivers have long suffered from annual erosion that destroys homes, farmland, schools, and markets, leaving many families displaced.

Local voters say they will support candidates who promise permanent and effective solutions to these problems. BNP candidate Faruk Alam Sarkar has pledged to prioritize riverbank protection, agricultural growth, and the establishment of police stations and tourism centers. Jamaat candidate Abdul Warres has promised to build livestock centers, hospitals, and educational institutions, and to construct a bridge or tunnel between Balashi and Bahadurabad. Despite the region’s agricultural potential, poor communication, lack of healthcare, and inadequate education remain major concerns.

Observers believe that sustainable river management and char development will determine the outcome of the Gaibandha-5 election.

Students of Noakhali Science and Technology University (NSTU) held a protest march and rally on Sunday night, denouncing alleged extortion by Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) leaders in various university projects and threats made to officials. The demonstration began at 10:30 p.m. from the central Shaheed Minar and moved through campus roads before concluding with a rally at the same location. Protesters chanted slogans rejecting extortion and political dominance on campus.

During the rally, several students from different departments spoke out against what they described as the misuse of student politics for personal gain. Business Administration student Kazi Saurav emphasized that the campus should remain free from extortion, while Oceanography student Jihadul Islam Rafi expressed frustration over the persistence of such practices despite expectations of reform. Education student Mujtaba Faisal Naim warned that no political group should be allowed to reintroduce extortion or tender manipulation in the new political climate.

The protest reflected growing student discontent with alleged political interference and financial misconduct within the university’s administrative and project activities.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has accused Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman of insulting women through his recent remarks. Speaking on Monday in front of the BNP’s central office in Naya Paltan, Dhaka, during a protest organized by the Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal, Rizvi questioned why Jamaat had not nominated any women candidates and warned that women’s hardship would increase if Jamaat came to power.

At the same rally, Mohila Dal President Afroza Abbas said the Jamaat chief had humiliated all women and demanded that he publicly apologize if he could not prove his claim that his social media account was hacked. She urged women to stand against Jamaat, accusing the party of being anti-liberation and of betraying women during the 1971 war.

BNP Standing Committee member Begum Selima Rahman also demanded an apology from Shafiqur Rahman, warning that failure to do so would provoke strong reaction from women. She said women would demonstrate on February 12 that no party disrespecting them could ever win.

In the Brahmanbaria-2 constituency, covering Sarail, Ashuganj, and parts of Bijoynagar, the electoral situation has become increasingly tense as two rebel BNP candidates, Barrister Rumin Farhana and S N Tarun Dey, refuse to withdraw from the race. Their defiance has placed heavy pressure on the alliance-backed candidate, Maulana Junaid Al Habib, despite clear instructions and expulsion warnings from the party’s central leadership.

Party sources indicate that the BNP high command is making last-ditch efforts to reach a compromise with the rebels. Grassroots activists are reportedly more active in campaigning for Rumin Farhana, while disciplinary actions against her supporters have been stricter than those backing Tarun Dey. Several local leaders, denied party nominations, are also contesting independently, deepening divisions within local BNP units and weakening overall coordination.

District BNP leaders claim they have repeatedly urged rebel candidates to withdraw and expelled many for defying party decisions. The presence of rebel candidates in seats allocated to allies under the coalition agreement has caused discomfort within the alliance, raising fears of vote splitting and potential defeat.

Nahid Islam, the Dhaka-11 constituency candidate from the 11-party alliance and convener of the National Citizens Party (NCP), stated that he has gone to court as a conscious citizen after learning from various sources that BNP candidate M A Kaiyum allegedly holds dual citizenship and concealed this information from the Election Commission. He made the remarks on Monday morning while speaking to journalists during a campaign event in West Rampura, following the filing of a High Court petition regarding Kaiyum’s foreign citizenship.

Nahid Islam further alleged that his campaign banners are being torn down daily and that his supporters are facing threats. He said that despite informing the Election Commission, no action has been taken. He also expressed concern that “politics of dead bodies” has resurfaced around the election period.

The dispute over candidate eligibility and campaign disruptions adds tension to the Dhaka-11 race as legal proceedings move forward.

Pakistan’s security forces have killed 22 more separatists in ongoing operations in Balochistan, bringing the total number of separatists killed over the past three days to 177. The information was confirmed by security sources on Monday, February 2, according to Geo News. The joint operations involve the military, intelligence agencies, and police, focusing particularly on groups linked to ‘Fitna al-Hindustan’. Reports indicate continued casualties as the crackdown intensifies.

Earlier, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif stated that more than 150 separatists had been killed in the Balochistan operations. The escalation follows coordinated attacks by separatists across 12 cities, including Quetta, Mastung, Nushki, Dalbandin, Kharan, Panjgur, Tump, Gwadar, and Pasni, targeting civilians.

Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti confirmed that at least 31 civilians and 17 security personnel were killed in attacks led by the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). He described the Balochistan crisis as a military, not political, issue and accused hostile elements allegedly backed by India of trying to destabilize Pakistan. Bugti added that security forces are avoiding heavy weapons to minimize civilian casualties.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman said that those spreading false claims about ID hacking cannot be friends of the people. He made the remarks on Monday afternoon during an election rally in Jashore, asserting that no qualitative change has occurred in politics since August 5. Rahman alleged that a political party used the excuse of ID hacking to deflect criticism, while experts have confirmed that such hacking was not possible. He accused the party of exposing its true character by misleading the public before the election.

Rahman further criticized the same group for allegedly demeaning half of the country’s population and attempting to confine women to their homes. Earlier in Khulna, he reminded that Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) wife, Khadijah (RA), was a successful businesswoman, emphasizing that no one has the right to insult women’s professional roles.

The BNP leader reiterated his party’s commitment to protecting women’s rights and dignity, linking it to broader political integrity and accountability.