On January 1, 2026, three candidates were disqualified during the second day of nomination scrutiny for the 13th national election in Khulna-1 (Dacope-Batiaghata) constituency. The disqualifications were based on allegations of signature forgery and submission of nominations with proposers registered in different constituencies. The review began at 11 a.m. and concluded with 10 candidates declared valid out of 13 who had submitted nomination papers.

According to District Commissioner and Returning Officer A.S.M. Jamshed Khondaker, the verification process is ongoing and will continue for other constituencies in the coming days. The disqualified candidates include Gano Adhikar Parishad’s G.M. Rokonuzzaman, whose proposer was a voter from another area, and two independent candidates, Gobinda Halder and Achintya Kumar Mondal, both accused of signature forgery.

The 10 valid candidates represent various political parties, including Islami Andolon, BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, JSD, Bangladesh Minority National Party, Bangladesh Samadhikar Parishad, Communist Party of Bangladesh, Jatiya Party, and Islami Front.

Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader has reported an increase in his cash holdings compared to two years ago, while his wife Sherifa Quader’s cash amount has decreased, according to the affidavit submitted for the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The affidavit shows Quader now holds Tk 6,032,405 in cash, up from Tk 4,988,253 during the 12th election, whereas his wife’s cash has fallen to Tk 4,890,938 from Tk 5,959,563. Both own houses in Lalmonirhat and Dhaka valued at over Tk 20 million combined, though neither owns agricultural land.

The affidavit lists Quader’s profession as politician and his wife’s as singer and businessperson. Quader uses a car worth Tk 8,498,475, while his wife drives one valued at Tk 8 million. His movable assets are valued at Tk 19.5 million and his wife’s at Tk 17.2 million. Quader has Tk 4 million in savings certificates or fixed deposits, and his wife has Tk 1,183,368. Their reported incomes include allowances, savings returns, and business earnings.

The affidavit also notes no income from agriculture, rent, or business for Quader, aside from allowances and investment returns.

Chattogram City Corporation Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain wrote in a condolence book on Thursday, January 1, expressing deep sorrow over the death of former three-time Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. The condolence book was opened at the BNP Chairperson’s office in Gulshan, Dhaka, for the public to pay tribute. He described Khaleda Zia as a leader who transcended party and ideology, noting that the massive attendance at her funeral prayer demonstrated her acceptance as a national leader.

In his message, Dr. Hossain referred to Khaleda Zia as an uncompromising leader and recalled his long association with her. He also shared memories of her political journey, stating that she began organizing the student wing during the 1980s democratic movement and earned the title of “uncompromising leader” at Chattogram’s Laldighi Maidan. He contrasted her political stance with that of Sheikh Hasina during the Ershad regime, emphasizing Khaleda Zia’s steadfastness.

The mayor prayed for Khaleda Zia’s eternal peace and highlighted her leadership as a unifying force for the people of Bangladesh.

Jagannath University has announced that the Central Student Parliament (JAKSU) and hall student council elections will take place on January 6. To ensure smooth conduct of the polls, the university administration has issued several new directives for teachers, officers, and employees. The notice, signed by Acting Registrar Professor Dr. Md. Sheikh Gias Uddin on January 1, outlines mandatory attendance and operational guidelines during the election period.

According to the notice, all teachers, officers, and employees must remain present at their respective workplaces from January 4 to 6, and no leave applications will be accepted during this time. The administration has also requested that no academic tours or study trips be scheduled by any institute or department during the election period.

The circular further instructs all deans, institute directors, department chairmen, and office heads to take necessary steps to implement and ensure compliance with these directives.

On the first day of scrutiny for the 13th National Parliamentary Election, four nomination papers were canceled in the Jashore-2 constituency, including that of Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Dr. Mosleh Uddin Farid. The Election Commission office stated that the Jamaat candidate would have the opportunity to appeal and could regain his candidacy upon providing proper information regarding the identified error.

Following the cancellation, Dr. Farid called on voters in his constituency not to be confused by the development. In a post on his verified Facebook page, he explained that the objection raised by the Election Commission was previously unknown to him but had since been resolved. He added that the Commission advised him to appeal with the necessary correction, and his legal team assured him that the issue would be settled through the appeal process.

Dr. Farid announced that the appeal would be submitted within the next two working days and sought prayers and support from his constituents as he proceeded with the appeal process.

Eight victims buried as unidentified after the July uprising have been identified through DNA testing, according to a briefing held Thursday evening at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka. Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam announced that the remains were among 118 bodies exhumed from the Rayerbazar graveyard. Families of the identified individuals have been informed, and the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs will soon release further details.

The identification process is being conducted under international standards. Shafiqul Alam said that the same international experts who worked on identifying victims of the Srebrenica massacre in Bosnia trained Bangladeshi specialists for this effort. Local experts have been equipped to perform precise DNA-based identification.

The press secretary emphasized that the government remains committed to confirming the identity of every martyr, despite the process being time-consuming and complex. The initiative began after the interim government took office to identify those buried as unclaimed following the July–August mass uprising.

Jamaat-e-Islami’s central Nayeb-e-Ameer Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher stated that the people are ready to vote for the Islami Dal to build a better Bangladesh. He made the remarks on Thursday afternoon during a meeting with local Jamaat leaders at Konkapait Union in Chauddagram upazila of Cumilla district.

Dr. Taher said that the people of Bangladesh are now divided into two sides—one supporting a political party and the other comprising the general public backing the Islami coalition. He emphasized that the spirit of the mass uprising should be implemented and that citizens are prepared to vote for the Islami Dal to establish a corruption-free and peaceful Bangladesh. He urged all to seek votes from everyone, regardless of political affiliation, to make the election festive.

The meeting was presided over by VP Shahab Uddin, convener of the Konkapait Union election management committee, and attended by local Jamaat leaders including Maulana Hasan Mojumdar, former UP chairman Iqbal Hossain Mojumdar, and union secretary Peyar Ahmed.

Joint forces intensified vehicle searches across Gopalganj to maintain law and order and ensure public safety ahead of the upcoming national parliamentary election. On Wednesday night, December 31, from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m., a joint team of police and army personnel set up a checkpoint at Gohardanga Chourangi intersection on the Dhaka–Pirojpur highway in Tungipara. Over a hundred vehicles were inspected during the operation.

Executive Magistrate and Assistant Commissioner (Land) Al-Amin Halder led the inspection, verifying driving licenses, registration papers, and safety equipment. Five cases were filed for missing helmets and invalid documents, resulting in fines totaling Tk 15,000. Passenger bags were also checked, but no untoward incidents were reported.

Officials stated that such coordinated operations involving the army, police, and magistrates will continue regularly in key and crowded areas to keep law and order stable and raise awareness among drivers about carrying valid documents and using helmets.

The Election Commission has canceled the nominations of four candidates and validated eight others in Chattogram-11 (Bandar–Patenga) constituency following the scrutiny of nomination papers for the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The decision was announced on Thursday, January 1, by Chattogram Regional Election Officer and Returning Officer Mohammad Belayet Hossain Chowdhury after completing the verification process.

According to the election office, the four canceled candidates are independent Mohammad Jahangir Bhuiyan, Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s Md. Nur Uddin, Gono Odhikar Parishad’s Muhammad Nezam Uddin, and BNP’s rebel candidate A.K.M. Abu Taher. Their nominations were rejected for reasons including incorrect voter support lists, incomplete party forms, unpaid city corporation dues, and loan default. Eight candidates from various political parties, including BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, Jatiya Party, and others, were declared valid.

The election office stated that a total of 12 candidates had submitted nomination papers for Chattogram-11, while 23 had collected forms earlier. After verification, four nominations were canceled and eight were approved for the upcoming election.

BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, contesting from Chattogram-11 (Bandar–Patenga), has declared total assets exceeding Tk 210 million jointly with his wife Tahera Alam. According to the affidavit submitted to the Election Commission, the couple hold Tk 32 million in cash, the highest amount among submitted documents. Khasru reported around Tk 150 million in movable and immovable assets, while his wife declared over Tk 60 million.

The affidavit lists Khasru’s annual income as Tk 16 million and Tahera Alam’s as Tk 3.78 million. Their assets include houses, land, investments, bank deposits, private business shares, and gold ornaments. The constituency has a total of 12 candidates, including two from the BNP—Amir Khasru and A.K.M. Abu Taher.

The disclosure of Khasru’s wealth has sparked renewed discussion in political circles, as the large cash holdings and total asset value drew notable attention following the submission of nomination papers.

A prayer and Gita recitation ceremony was held at the Madhya Nijpara Sarbojonin Sri Sri Durga Temple (floating) in Kaunia upazila, Rangpur, seeking forgiveness and eternal peace for the soul of BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. The event took place on Thursday, December 1, at 7 p.m., with participation from Hindu community leaders.

Temple Committee President Mohan Roy Fulbabu, General Secretary Bishwajit Barman, and other local Hindu leaders attended the ceremony. After the prayers and Gita recitation, participants prayed for the departed soul’s peace and expressed deep respect for Khaleda Zia’s distinguished political life.

Separately, Kaunia Upazila BNP organized a doa mahfil at its party office after Maghrib prayers, attended by leaders and activists from the upazila BNP and its affiliated organizations.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has expressed a desire to work together with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in the national interest, similar to past cooperation. He made the remarks on Thursday evening at BNP Chairperson’s office in Gulshan while offering condolences to acting BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman and his bereaved family following the death of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. Dr. Rahman signed the condolence book and later briefed the press, stating that both parties share the same aspiration to collaborate.

During the meeting, Dr. Rahman said that the upcoming national election and referendum scheduled for 12 February should be peaceful, fair, and acceptable. He emphasized that Jamaat and BNP leaders discussed the possibility of jointly planning for the nation’s stability and progress over the next five years. He also announced that both parties intend to sit together immediately after the election but before government formation to discuss national issues and make collective decisions.

Senior BNP leaders including Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Salahuddin Ahmed, and Nazrul Islam Khan were present at the meeting, along with senior Jamaat officials.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has expressed a desire to work jointly with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) for the country's interest, similar to past cooperation. He made the remarks on Thursday evening at BNP Chairperson’s office in Gulshan while offering condolences to Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and the bereaved family of late former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. During the meeting, he signed the condolence book and later briefed the press about their discussions.

Dr. Rahman praised Khaleda Zia’s leadership and lifelong struggle for democracy and citizens’ rights, criticizing the government’s treatment of her during her illness. He noted that both Jamaat and BNP leaders, including Tarique Rahman, shared the aspiration to collaborate again. The Jamaat chief also mentioned that the next national election and a referendum are scheduled for February 12, emphasizing the need for a peaceful and credible process.

He added that both parties plan to meet after the election but before the formation of the next government to discuss national issues and decisions, aiming to uphold the unity platform established by Khaleda Zia.

The nomination of Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Dr. Mosleh Uddin Farid for Jessore-2 (Jhikargacha-Chowgacha) constituency in the 13th National Parliamentary Election has been cancelled due to a credit card-related bank clearance issue. The district returning officer and Jessore Deputy Commissioner Asheq Hasan confirmed that Farid’s CIB report showed an old unpaid credit card balance, though he submitted payment proof. The delay in repayment led to the cancellation. Farid may appeal to the election appellate court and could regain candidacy if required documents are resubmitted.

In the same constituency, five other candidates faced nomination issues, including BNP leader Mohammad Ishaq, who failed to submit a party nomination. Independent candidates Mehedi Hasan and Zahurul Islam lost nominations due to signature mismatches, while BNPF candidate Shassul Haque’s nomination was kept pending. Jatiya Party candidate Firoz Shah’s nomination was cancelled following an Agrani Bank objection.

In Jessore-1 (Sharsha), BNP candidate Nuruzzaman Liton’s nomination was kept pending due to inconsistencies in case and dependent information. Candidates have until January 4 to correct errors and resubmit documents for final approval.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman conveyed his condolences to BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and his bereaved family following the death of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. On Thursday evening, he visited the BNP Chairperson’s office in Gulshan, Dhaka, where he met Tarique Rahman and other BNP leaders to express sympathy. He also signed the condolence book kept at the office.

Begum Khaleda Zia passed away on Tuesday while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. Her funeral prayer took place on Wednesday in the Parliament area, described as a historic event, and she was later buried beside her husband, former President Ziaur Rahman, at the Zia Udyan in Dhaka.

The condolence visit by the Jamaat chief reflects continued political and personal ties between the two parties during a period of mourning for the BNP leadership.