The Supreme Court of Bangladesh has suspended a previous High Court order that had directed authorities to refrain from disconnecting water, electricity, and gas connections in under-construction buildings within areas controlled by the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK). The chamber court of the Appellate Division issued the suspension order on February 3, 2026, following a petition filed by RAJUK challenging the earlier High Court directive.

The High Court had earlier, on December 17, 2025, issued a rule and an interim injunction in response to a writ petition filed by the Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB), instructing RAJUK and related authorities not to disconnect utility connections in such buildings. The government had initially decided on April 17, 2025, that utility connections would be cut off for buildings under construction that violated approved designs in RAJUK-controlled areas.

With the Supreme Court’s latest order, there is no longer any legal barrier preventing RAJUK and relevant authorities from conducting mobile court operations and disconnecting water, gas, and electricity connections in buildings under construction that deviate from approved designs.

Former student leader Moksed Alam has been appointed as the central joint general secretary of the Jatiyatabadi Krishak Dal. The announcement was made on Monday through a press release signed by the party’s central office secretary, Shafiqul Islam. The appointment was approved by the organization’s central president, agriculturist Hasan Jafir Tuhin, and general secretary, Shahidul Islam Babul.

According to the press release, the decision took effect on February 1. It also expressed hope that Moksed Alam would play an active role in strengthening, organizing, and energizing the Krishak Dal. The appointment reflects the leadership’s confidence in Alam’s ability to contribute to the party’s organizational development.

The announcement underscores the party’s ongoing efforts to reinforce its central leadership structure and enhance internal coordination through new appointments.

Sanatan (Hindu) students at Jagannath University held a sit-in on Tuesday at the university’s Muktomoncho, demanding the establishment of a central temple on campus. The protesters described a plan to build a public toilet near the proposed temple site as an act of religious disrespect. Participants from various departments joined the demonstration, chanting slogans asserting their right to a temple and criticizing the university administration.

Ajay Pal, general secretary of the Sri Chaitanya Education and Culture Association, said the university has about 2,700 Sanatan students but no central temple despite repeated petitions. He added that the vice-chancellor had cited space constraints but later indicated a site near Muktomoncho, where a public toilet project has now been initiated, angering students. Priyanta Swarnakar, acting president of the Student Unity Council, said the decision to build the toilet was made without consulting them.

Sumon Kumar Das, president of the Jagannath University Sanatan Student Council, announced that foundation rituals would be completed and temple construction would begin the same day. The protesters demanded a clear statement from the administration to fulfill their request promptly.

National Citizen Party (NCP) spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan claimed that government officials are openly seeking votes for the opposition’s paddy sheaf symbol, describing it as a threat to democracy. Speaking at an NCP election road meeting on Tuesday at Singra bus stand in Natore, he alleged that the Election Commission and administration are showing bias as the election approaches. He cited a social media video showing a presiding officer in Panchagarh asking for votes for the paddy sheaf.

Bhuiyan said that complaints from the 11-party alliance to the Election Commission are ignored, while complaints from the BNP receive immediate action. He warned that attempts to use the administration to stage another rigged election would not succeed, saying the people would defend their voting rights even at the cost of their lives. Other NCP leaders, including Monira Sharmin and Tariqul Islam, echoed concerns about administrative bias and pledged to protect polling centers.

The event was part of the NCP’s nationwide election campaign, attended by leaders from the 11-party alliance supporting Shapla Koli symbol candidate S.M. Jargis Kadir in Natore-3 constituency.

The chiefs of Bangladesh’s Army, Navy and Air Force visited Gazipur district on Tuesday ahead of the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election and Referendum 2026. During the visit, General Waker-uz-Zaman, Admiral M Nazmul Hasan and Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmud Khan met senior military officers, law enforcement officials and civil administration representatives from Gazipur, Narsingdi and Narayanganj districts at the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute conference hall.

The meeting focused on ensuring peaceful, neutral and fair elections through inter-agency coordination and comprehensive security management. The three service chiefs emphasized professionalism, neutrality, discipline, patience and citizen-friendly conduct in carrying out duties. They also inspected the activities of armed forces personnel deployed under the “In Aid to the Civil Power” framework and provided necessary guidance.

Senior military and civil officials, law enforcement representatives and members of the media were present during the visit, reflecting a broad-based coordination effort for maintaining order during the election period.

Dr. Shafiqul Islam Masud, central executive member of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and Dhaka South secretary, alleged that the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Bauphal Police Station has lost neutrality. Speaking at a press conference at the Bauphal upazila Jamaat office on Tuesday, he claimed that the OC conducted a raid on their party office under provocation from another political group, without proper verification. Masud argued that a neutral election cannot be expected while the current OC remains in his post and urged the Election Commission to withdraw him immediately.

He questioned how members of another political organization and several journalists were present before the police raid, suggesting that they had prior knowledge of the operation. Masud said the police found nothing during the raid, which, according to him, proves the action was politically motivated. He emphasized that law enforcement should ensure full confirmation before conducting such operations.

Masud also announced that Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman will visit Bauphal on February 6 to address a public rally at the local field, where other alliance leaders will also attend.

Professor Ali Riaz, special assistant to the chief adviser, called on citizens to support the 'July Charter' in the upcoming national referendum. Speaking at a discussion meeting at Dhaka University’s Nawab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Building on Tuesday, he described the charter as a pledge written in blood, symbolizing the sacrifices of those who fought against fascist rule. The event was organized by the University Grants Commission to promote the referendum and encourage voter participation.

Riaz emphasized that the July Charter represents a collective debt to the youth, workers, and citizens who protested for freedom and justice. He warned against the return of personal dictatorship and urged constitutional reforms to prevent unilateral amendments. He also criticized past constitutional changes and elections that, according to him, undermined democracy.

Special assistant Monir Haidar added that the referendum will include 48 reform proposals under four categories, ultimately asking whether citizens support the July uprising. He cautioned that failure of the referendum could allow fascism to return, stressing that it is an opportunity to realize the founding goals of equality, dignity, and social justice.

At a press conference in Gulshan on Tuesday, BNP Central Election Steering Committee spokesperson and party chairperson’s adviser Mahdi Amin accused so-called reformists of spreading misinformation about the BNP’s reform agenda. He said the party has consistently advocated for state reform, citing its Vision 2030, 27-point and 31-point reform proposals, and support for a bicameral parliament and term limits for the prime minister. Amin reaffirmed BNP’s stance in favor of a ‘yes’ vote in the upcoming national referendum on state reform.

He expressed concern over the spread of at least 29 false or misleading claims targeting BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman in the past week, citing fact-checking reports as evidence. Amin also objected to the deployment of Bangladesh National Cadet Corps (BNCC) members in election duties, warning it could compromise neutrality. Additionally, he raised alarm over 34,442 election observers from 16 organizations, alleging some have political affiliations, and urged the Election Commission to verify observer lists and limit numbers per polling center.

Amin announced that Tarique Rahman would visit Barishal and Faridpur on Wednesday for campaign rallies as part of his election tour.

Ariful Islam, the candidate of the 11-party 'Oikyo Boddho Bangladesh' alliance including Jamaat and NCP for Dhaka-18 constituency, said that the people of Bangladesh are rising against Indian dominance, corruption, and extortion. He made the remarks on Tuesday morning while speaking to journalists after distributing leaflets and meeting voters in Uttara’s Rajlakkhi area. According to him, citizens are seeking change and envisioning a new Bangladesh free from corruption and extortion.

Islam stated that his campaign has been receiving a strong response since the alliance’s announcement, and several teams are engaging with the public to understand their expectations. Expressing concern over the election atmosphere, he alleged that his campaigners and party activists are being threatened in various places, and female members are facing obstacles during campaigning. He described these incidents as regrettable and harmful to a free and fair election.

He further claimed that he was directly attacked during campaigning, but despite the attackers being identified, police have not arrested them. He also alleged that the BNP took only superficial action against one attacker who continues to campaign for its candidate.

BNP Standing Committee member and Dhaka-8 constituency candidate Mirza Abbas criticized his political rivals during a meeting with traders at Gulistan’s Hall Market in Dhaka on Tuesday. Referring to his opponents, he said they were behaving like fish out of shallow water, using indecent language to gain attention. Abbas urged them to speak respectfully and avoid spreading slander, asserting that he had always stood against extortion, terrorism, and drug trafficking.

He also accused a junior group of Jamaat-e-Islami of making offensive remarks about the BNP and Bangladeshi working women. Emphasizing his integrity, Abbas challenged his critics to hold a public arbitration at Baitul Mukarram if they doubted his honesty. He stated that he had grown up through hard work, not corruption or unethical means.

Addressing voters, Abbas called on them to guard polling centers on election day and ensure that no polling agents or officers leave without signed result sheets. He warned against allowing vote counting outside polling stations and expressed concern about possible election engineering, urging supporters to remain vigilant.

A delegation from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami is scheduled to visit Bangabhaban on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the hacking of party chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman’s X (Twitter) account. The hack allegedly used Bangabhaban’s official email and was followed by the posting of anti-women content. The delegation will be led by Sirajul Islam, a member of Jamaat’s central election management committee.

According to the report, the incident occurred last Saturday when Dr. Rahman’s X account was compromised and used to post objectionable material. Jamaat’s IT experts later regained control of the account. The party subsequently filed a general diary with the police and lodged complaints with the Cyber Tribunal, the Election Commission, and other government bodies, demanding action over the incident.

The meeting at Bangabhaban aims to protest the misuse of the presidential office’s email and to seek clarification and accountability regarding the hacking incident.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has declared that around Tk 28 lakh crore allegedly laundered from the country will be recovered. Speaking at an election rally in Mymensingh’s Circuit House field on Tuesday, February 3, he said no personal ties or influence would be considered in this effort. He emphasized that those involved in money laundering would be brought back to Bangladesh and face legal action, adding that they would not be allowed to live luxuriously abroad with stolen national wealth.

Dr. Rahman described the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election as a nation-building election rather than an ordinary one. He said a wave of change had risen under public pressure, and that student movements and university elections had shown clear opposition to fascism. The rally was presided over by Mymensingh Metropolitan Jamaat Ameer Maulana Kamrul Ahsan Emrul and attended by several central and local Jamaat leaders.

The event reflected Jamaat’s campaign focus on anti-corruption and national accountability ahead of the election.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Tarique Rahman will deliver a televised address on Bangladesh Television (BTV) on February 9, ahead of the upcoming national election and referendum. The Election Commission (EC) has instructed BTV to make the necessary arrangements for the broadcast, according to a letter issued by EC’s Public Relations Director Md. Ruhul Amin Mallik on February 3.

The EC letter stated that creating a fair and acceptable electoral environment is essential for a free and impartial election. It emphasized that providing equal broadcast opportunities for all political parties on BTV can help ensure fairness. The commission directed BTV to allocate time slots for party leaders’ campaign speeches based on the order of written applications, in accordance with the 2025 Election Conduct Rules.

As no other political party besides the BNP applied for broadcast time, the EC instructed BTV to allocate the final slot on February 9 for Tarique Rahman’s address. A total of 51 parties are contesting in the February 12 election, with campaign activities permitted until 7:30 a.m. on February 10.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has started collecting postal votes from registered prisoners through the Postal Vote BD app. Brigadier General (Retd.) Salim Ahmad Khan, head of the EC’s Out of Country Voting System and Implementation project, confirmed on Tuesday, February 3, that the process began that day and will continue until February 7.

A total of 1,533,684 voters at home and abroad have registered through the Postal Vote BD app to participate in the 13th National Parliament election and referendum. Among them, 761,142 registered from within the country, including 6,240 voters currently in legal custody. The EC also reported that postal ballots have been sent to government officials and employees assigned to election duties, with 646,507 ballots dispatched by noon on Tuesday.

The national election and referendum are scheduled for February 12. According to the EC, only postal ballots reaching the respective returning officers by 4:30 p.m. on election day will be counted.

Dhaka-8 constituency candidate and National Citizens Party (NCP) chief coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari has declared that drug lords will be submerged in the Buriganga River. He made the statement on Tuesday morning during election campaigning and public outreach in Motijheel and Dainik Bangla intersections of the capital. Patwari expressed optimism that an eleven-party alliance would form the next government after the upcoming thirteenth national parliamentary election.

He urged the administration to maintain complete neutrality during the election to ensure fairness, saying that although they do not want an election dominated by money and muscle power, drugs and terrorism have already infiltrated the process. Patwari also pledged to stand by hawkers associated with the Hawkers Association and emphasized his party’s commitment to democracy and a corruption-free Bangladesh.

Patwari further stated that no one would be able to disrupt the election and criticized the presence of a BNP activist allegedly involved with drugs at Dhaka University campus, claiming that wherever there is trouble, BNP members are involved.