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.

The army-led joint forces have taken strict measures to prevent the use of Rohingyas in acts of sabotage or violence during the upcoming national parliamentary election in Cox’s Bazar and southern Chattogram. Lieutenant Colonel Tanvir Ahmed of the Ramu 10 Infantry Division shared the information at a media briefing held on Tuesday, January 10, at the Cox’s Bazar Cultural Centre. He said the forces are focusing on restricting Rohingya movement outside camps, repairing barbed-wire fences, setting up checkpoints, and conducting special patrols to avert any unwanted incidents.

Tanvir Ahmed added that army striking forces will be deployed at remote polling centers in four constituencies of Cox’s Bazar. In case of irregularities or conflicts inside or outside polling centers, the army will coordinate with police, RAB, and BGB to take direct control of the situation. He assured that voters will be able to cast their votes without fear.

Earlier, Lieutenant Colonel Sutfa Zaman reported that between February 3 and 9, joint forces conducted 46 operations in Cox’s Bazar and southern Chattogram, seizing firearms, sharp weapons, and drugs, and detaining 1,149 Rohingyas living illegally outside camps.

With just one day left before the national election, former MP Mujibur Rahman Nixon Chowdhury, currently absconding, released a 10-minute-7-second video message on social media targeting BNP candidate Shahidul Islam Babul in the Faridpur-4 constituency. The video was uploaded on February 10 at 3:39 p.m. from a Facebook account named Shafiqul Islam Azad. The timing of the post, coming amid heightened campaign activity, drew immediate public attention and mixed reactions.

In the video, Nixon Chowdhury, identifying himself as a nephew of Hasina, claimed that the “illegal Yunus government” had filed 72 cases against him to keep him away from his supporters. He accused Babul of using false cases and police harassment to intimidate and recruit his followers. Chowdhury urged Babul to focus only on his party’s votes. The video was widely shared by his supporters after publication.

Political analysts and voters expressed concern that such a message, released at the final stage of the campaign, could disrupt the fair electoral environment. No response from BNP candidate Shahidul Islam Babul was reported.

A Chhatra Dal leader from Bhabaniganj municipality in Bagmara upazila, Rajshahi, has been expelled for violating organizational discipline. The expelled leader, Mustafizur Rahman (Milon), also known as Milon Parvez, was removed from the organization following a decision announced on Monday in a press release signed by Central Chhatra Dal Office Secretary Md. Jahangir Alam. The statement said the expulsion was based on specific allegations of breaching party discipline.

Earlier that night, a post appeared on Mustafizur Rahman’s Facebook account containing a photo from an election rally of a Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami candidate, accompanied by a message expressing support for that candidate. About three hours after the post was made, Chhatra Dal announced his expulsion.

Mustafizur Rahman claimed that someone else had used his Facebook name to make the post and denied any direct involvement in the matter.

Two parliamentary candidates in Fatikchhari, Chattogram, withdrew from the election at the last moment, each extending support to rival party nominees. On Tuesday, February 10, Ganadhikar Parishad candidate Rabiul Hasan Tanzim, who was contesting with the truck symbol, announced his withdrawal at a press conference and declared support for BNP candidate Sarwar Alamgir. Tanzim said his decision followed a political understanding between Ganadhikar Parishad and the BNP.

Separately, on Monday night, independent candidate Advocate Ahmad Kabir Karim, who was running with the football symbol, announced his withdrawal in favor of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami nominee Principal Nurul Amin. Karim stated that he stepped aside voluntarily for the greater interest and urged his supporters to vote for the balance scale symbol.

The withdrawals came just before the election, reshaping the local contest in Fatikchhari as both candidates aligned themselves with major opposition parties.

United States President Donald Trump has warned Iran of potential military action if Tehran fails to meet Washington’s demands on nuclear enrichment and ballistic missiles. In an interview with Israel’s Channel 12 published Tuesday, Trump said, “Either we reach a deal, or we’ll have to do something very tough.” His comments came as Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani met Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said to discuss recent US-Iran talks. The US has also warned its commercial ships to avoid Iranian waters amid a growing military buildup that includes the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, with reports suggesting a second carrier may be deployed.

Trump’s renewed threats follow his administration’s three demands: ending uranium enrichment, cutting ties with regional proxies, and limiting missile stockpiles. Since returning to office in January 2025, he has reinstated a “maximum pressure” campaign involving sanctions and military posturing. The escalation coincides with widespread anti-government protests in Iran, which were met with a violent crackdown that reportedly killed thousands. Analysts note that US military action could align with long-standing US and Israeli goals of curbing Iran’s military power, though its impact on Iran’s internal unrest remains uncertain.