Thousands of supporters marched through Caracas on Tuesday demanding the release of former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, who was arrested a month ago following a deadly US military operation that removed him from power. Maduro was taken to New York to face drug trafficking charges. The government-organized rally drew large numbers of public employees carrying images of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who was also detained during the operation.

Interim president Delcy Rodríguez faces a complex political situation, balancing Washington’s support while maintaining backing from Maduro loyalists within the government and society. Maduro’s son, National Assembly deputy Nicolás ‘Nicolasito’ Maduro Guerra, declared that Venezuelans reject US dominance and embrace anti-imperialist sentiment. Many demonstrators wore red, symbolizing the Chavista movement founded by Hugo Chávez.

Under pressure to normalize relations with the United States, Rodríguez’s government has begun releasing political prisoners and opening the state energy sector to private investment. The US envoy Laura Dogu outlined a three-step plan for building a stable and democratic Venezuela. Meanwhile, students and relatives of political detainees also marched, urging swift passage of a promised amnesty law.

Abdul Awal Mintoo, vice chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and candidate for Feni-3 constituency, declared that Jamaat-e-Islami would never be allowed to come to power in Bangladesh. Speaking at an election campaign rally on Tuesday evening at the Sonagazi municipal grounds, he described Jamaat as a group of hypocrites and accused them of working against national development. Mintoo urged voters to ensure that no member of Jamaat could hold even a local position.

He appealed to residents to vote for the BNP’s electoral symbol, the paddy sheaf, in the upcoming election on the 12th. Mintoo said that if the BNP returned to power and Tarique Rahman became head of government, Bangladesh would move forward with divine blessings. He called on supporters to mobilize family members, especially women, to cast their votes for the BNP.

Several BNP leaders, including central and district-level representatives, were present at the rally, showing organizational support for Mintoo’s campaign in Feni-3.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman is scheduled to visit Barishal and Faridpur on Wednesday, marking his first trip to Barishal in 20 years. He will depart Dhaka by helicopter at 11 a.m. and is expected to arrive at the historic Bell’s Park field by noon to address an election rally. Following the event, he will travel to Faridpur. The rally will feature candidates from BNP and its allied coalition representing 21 constituencies in the Barishal division.

Party leaders and activists from across the division have begun gathering at the venue since early morning to welcome their leader. According to the report, Tarique Rahman is expected to outline the party’s election roadmap and discuss development plans for the southern region. The atmosphere across the division has taken on a festive tone ahead of his arrival.

The visit is viewed as a significant moment for BNP’s regional campaign efforts, as it brings together party members and supporters from multiple districts in anticipation of the upcoming election.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman is scheduled to speak at an election rally today at the helipad ground of Teesta Barrage in Lalmonirhat district. The event, part of the campaign supporting the 13th National Parliamentary Election and referendum, will begin around 12:30 p.m. in Hatibandha upazila. The rally is organized by the 11-party alliance.

According to local party leaders, the gathering will support seven candidates contesting under the 'scale' symbol across Nilphamari and Lalmonirhat districts. Lalmonirhat Jamaat chief Advocate Md. Abu Taher is contesting from Lalmonirhat-3, while Anwarul Islam Raju, Jamaat’s central vice president for industry and commerce, is running from Lalmonirhat-1 (Patgram and Hatibandha). Both are expected to attend the rally alongside other alliance candidates.

The event marks a major campaign effort by Jamaat-e-Islami in northern Bangladesh ahead of the upcoming national election and referendum.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has curtailed the involvement of Bangladesh National Cadet Corps (BNCC) members in the upcoming 13th parliamentary election and referendum scheduled for February 12, 2026. Initially, the EC planned to deploy BNCC members at polling centers to assist with election duties. However, following objections from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the EC decided to restrict their role to maintaining discipline at postal ballot counting centers and the EC Secretariat.

According to a circular signed by an EC deputy secretary on Tuesday, BNCC members will work at IT-supported postal ballot counting centers and at the Secretariat’s result collection and dissemination sections from February 11. The directive outlines six operational guidelines, including coordination with returning officers, verification of cadets’ neutrality, and pre-deployment training. The EC will cover related expenses from its budget.

The decision followed a February 1 meeting between the Chief Election Commissioner and BNP representatives. BNP leader Nazrul Islam Khan stated that involving young students in a politically sensitive process could make both the students and their institution controversial, prompting the EC to revise its earlier plan.

Nuruzzaman Badal, the secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami’s Sherpur district branch and the party’s candidate for the Sherpur-3 (Sreebardi–Jhenaigati) parliamentary seat, has passed away at the age of 51. His death occurred at around 3 a.m. on Tuesday night, according to a Facebook post by Jamaat-e-Islami confirming the news.

The post stated that Nuruzzaman Badal had been admitted to a hospital due to kidney-related illness and died while undergoing treatment. He was the officially nominated candidate of Jamaat-e-Islami for the Sherpur-3 constituency in the upcoming election.

The report did not mention further details about funeral arrangements or the party’s next steps regarding the vacant candidacy.

UK-based weekly The Economist has reported that Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairman Tarique Rahman is leading the race to become Bangladesh’s next prime minister in the upcoming general election scheduled for February 12, 2026. The magazine described him as a 60-year-old heir of a prominent political family and the top contender following the country’s first election since a ‘revolution’ 18 months earlier that ended the Awami League’s 15-year rule.

The Economist’s analysis stated that the return to democracy is expected to improve law and order, reassure investors, and repair strained relations with India. It noted that the interim government led by Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus has stabilized the economy and prepared reforms to prevent future authoritarianism, including proposals for a new upper house and a 10-year limit on the prime minister’s tenure. The report also mentioned that Rahman’s BNP is leading opinion polls.

Rahman has pledged to support investors, create jobs, train young Bangladeshis for overseas employment, dig 20,000 kilometers of canals to address water shortages, and plant 50 million trees annually. He emphasized ensuring freedom of expression, maintaining law and order, and prosecuting those responsible for the 2024 protest killings.

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, son of Libya’s former leader Muammar Gaddafi, has been shot dead in the western Libyan city of Zintan. The incident was confirmed on Tuesday night by Qatar-based broadcaster Al Jazeera, citing its Arabic service correspondent Ahmed Khalifa. The 53-year-old was reportedly living in Zintan for the past decade. His political adviser Abdullah Othman confirmed his death, though details about the attackers and circumstances remain unknown. Libyan authorities have yet to comment on the incident.

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi never held an official government position but was considered the second most influential figure in Libya between 2000 and 2011, after his father. Muammar Gaddafi was killed in 2011, ending his decades-long rule. Saif was imprisoned in Zintan that same year and released in 2017.

The lack of official statements leaves questions about the motive and perpetrators of the killing, as Libya continues to face political instability and fragmented authority.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has reported that the X (formerly Twitter) account of its Secretary General, Mia Golam Porwar, was hacked just days after the party chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman’s account was compromised. The hackers allegedly posted objectionable content from Porwar’s account, which was later deleted by the party’s social media team. The incident was disclosed at an emergency press conference held at Jamaat’s central office on Tuesday night, where the party announced plans to take legal action.

At the briefing, Jamaat’s central election committee member Engineer Sirajul Islam claimed that the earlier hacking of the party chief’s account had originated from an email linked to Bangabhaban, suggesting possible wider access to multiple devices. He urged the government to investigate the extent of the hackers’ control and warned that such cyberattacks could be used for data theft and conspiracies. Jamaat leaders condemned the attacks, describing them as part of a broader plot against the party.

Assistant Secretary General Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair also issued a statement condemning the hacking and called on authorities to identify and act against those responsible.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami announced that its Secretary General, Mia Golam Porwar’s X (formerly Twitter) account was hacked on Tuesday night. After the breach, offensive content was posted from his account, which was later deleted by the party’s social media team. Jamaat leaders said legal action would be taken soon. The incident was disclosed at an emergency press conference held at the party’s central office.

Engineer Sirajul Islam, a member of Jamaat’s central election committee, said the attack might be connected to a previous hacking of the party chief’s X account, allegedly carried out using an email from Bangabhaban. He urged the government to investigate the extent of the hackers’ control over devices and systems. Jamaat’s Assistant Secretary General and media chief, Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, condemned the hacking and described it as part of a broader conspiracy targeting party leaders.

The party reiterated its earlier claim that a government email address had been misused in a phishing attempt that compromised the Jamaat chief’s account, calling for accountability and stronger cyber protections.

The National Citizens Party (NCP) has alleged that unethical 'election engineering' activities are underway ahead of Bangladesh’s upcoming 13th national election. At a press conference held Tuesday evening at the party’s temporary central office in Dhaka’s Banglamotor, NCP leaders claimed that the Election Commission has lost its neutrality and that state institutions, including the police and administration, are working to favor one political party. They also accused authorities of appointing presiding officers based on political ideology, warning that such actions could render the election fraudulent.

The NCP further alleged that its candidates and workers from the 11-party alliance are facing widespread violence and obstruction during campaigning. The party cited incidents of attacks, arson, and intimidation in several districts, including Comilla, Narsingdi, and Narayanganj. It also accused the BNP of engaging in both violence and vote-buying, claiming that a mobile court recently sentenced six individuals for distributing money in Mymensingh-11. The NCP called for impartial action from the Election Commission and administration to ensure a free and fair election.

The party warned that without immediate corrective measures, the election’s credibility could be questioned even before polling begins.

Inkilab Monch has demanded an international investigation under United Nations supervision into the killing of Shaheed Osman Hadi, alleging state negligence and non-cooperation in the ongoing inquiry. The group announced its position at a press conference held on Tuesday, February 3, at Dhaka University’s Madhur Canteen. Member Secretary Abdullah Al Jaber urged Interim Government Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus to send a formal request to the UN within 24 hours for such an investigation.

Jaber claimed that the domestic investigation process is being used to shield the real perpetrators, noting that despite 53 days since the shooting and 47 days since Hadi’s death, no suspects have been identified. He also alleged that key information is being withheld from him as the case’s complainant and expressed concern about possible forgery of his signature. Drawing a parallel with the Rafik Hariri assassination case, he argued that only a UN-led inquiry could ensure justice.

The organization also raised issues regarding the upcoming 13th national election, calling for body cameras for security forces at vulnerable polling centers and measures against the use of illegal money and muscle power.

Former Pakistani Prime Minister and imprisoned PTI leader Imran Khan has undergone eye surgery and is gradually recovering, according to party chairman Barrister Gohar Khan. The update, shared on Tuesday, was based on information from Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi. The operation took place last week at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences after Khan experienced severe eye pain. Doctors had warned that without treatment, there was a risk of losing his eyesight.

Gohar Khan disclosed the details after family members were allowed to meet Imran Khan in prison, where only Bushra Bibi was present during the visit. He stated that no political discussions took place at that time. Gohar also alleged irregularities in the prison’s meeting policies, arguing that there is no written restriction on political discussions and that all parties should be treated equally under the law.

He described the authorities’ refusal to allow him to meet the PTI founder as regrettable and urged that prison visits should not be politicized. Imran Khan has also sent a message for his party and legal team, which Gohar Khan will deliver.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has issued a public notice prohibiting all forms of gatherings, rallies, sit-ins, and processions in several key areas of the capital, including the Bangladesh Secretariat and the Chief Adviser’s official residence, Jamuna. The restriction will take effect from Wednesday, February 4, 2026, and will remain in place until further notice. The order was signed by DMP Commissioner Sheikh Md. Sajjat Ali.

According to the notice, the decision was made under Section 29 of the DMP Ordinance to maintain public order and ensure the security of the Chief Adviser. The restricted zones include the areas surrounding the Secretariat and Jamuna, covering the stretch between Hotel Intercontinental Crossing, Kakrail Mosque Crossing, Officers Club Crossing, and Minto Road Crossing.

The DMP announcement emphasized that the ban applies to all types of public assemblies, including human chains, demonstrations, and processions, within the designated areas until new instructions are issued.

A total of 297,350 postal ballots from expatriate voters have arrived in Bangladesh ahead of the upcoming 13th National Parliament Election and referendum. The information was confirmed on Tuesday, February 3, by Salim Ahmad Khan, team leader of the OCV-SDI project on expatriate voter registration. According to him, as of 12 p.m. that day, 766,862 ballots had been sent to registered expatriate voters through the Postal Vote BD app. Among them, 524,080 voters received their ballots, and 467,707 have already cast their votes.

Additionally, 423,712 expatriate voters have submitted their ballots to postal services in their respective countries, with 6,042 ballots already received by returning officers in Bangladesh. The Election Commission has also begun sending postal ballots to domestic voters under the ICPV system, dispatching 646,507 ballots so far. Of these, 125,668 voters have received their ballots, 96,632 have voted, and 70,810 have submitted their ballots to post offices or drop boxes.

In total, 1,533,684 voters at home and abroad have registered through the Postal Vote BD app to participate in the election and referendum.