Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General Dr. A.H.M. Hamidur Rahman Azad has alleged that Election Commission (EC) officials themselves stamped ballots and tampered with result sheets during the national parliamentary election. The allegations were raised on Sunday during a meeting between leaders of the 11-party alliance and the EC at its headquarters in Agargaon, Dhaka. Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Mashud and other officials were present at the meeting.

According to Hamidur Rahman, the election process was marred by irregularities, including the use of black money and what he described as “election engineering.” He claimed that in some centers, officials on duty stamped ballots themselves, voters were intimidated, and polling was obstructed. He further alleged that vote casting was low in some areas, while in others, abnormally high turnout and use of extra ballots were observed. Agents were reportedly forced out during vote counting, and result sheets were altered. The alliance leaders said they had repeatedly informed the EC but received no satisfactory action.

Other participants in the meeting included liaison committee media coordinator Ehsanul Mahbub Jubayer, Jamaat leader Barrister Najibur Rahman Momen, Labor Party’s Mostafizur Rahman Iran, and central leaders of the NCP.

A woman in Chapainawabganj’s Shibganj area was reportedly divorced by her husband after she voted for the scale symbol, defying his instruction. The incident occurred on Friday in the Sheikh Tola Tartipur Road area of Shibganj Municipality’s Ward 6. The woman, Tarafun Khatun, said her husband, Soibur Rahman, a local BNP activist, had forbidden her from voting for the scale symbol. After she did so, he divorced her. The couple had been married for 31 years and have two daughters and one son. Tarafun is now staying at her sister-in-law’s house with her children.

Soibur Rahman admitted that he divorced his wife in anger and is now trying to reconcile. Their son, Tarif Hossain, said his father acknowledged his mistake but his mother does not wish to return. Jamaat-e-Islami’s Shibganj municipal leader Abdul Aziz Mahmud confirmed that Tarafun was divorced for voting for the scale symbol and said the party would support her. Local human rights official S.M. Mohiuddin described the divorce as a clear violation of democratic and human rights.

The incident has sparked local uproar and renewed discussion about women’s voting rights and political intolerance in the area.

Five new candidates from Comilla have secured decisive victories in Bangladesh’s 13th national parliamentary election held on Thursday. Among the district’s 11 constituencies, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) won eight seats, while Jamaat-e-Islami, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and an independent candidate each captured one seat. The five first-time members of parliament are Selim Bhuiyan (Comilla-2), Hasnat Abdullah (Comilla-4), Jasim Uddin (Comilla-5), Atikul Alam (Comilla-7), and Abul Kalam (Comilla-9).

Local party workers expressed hope that the BNP’s earlier promise to establish Comilla as a separate administrative division would be fulfilled. Newly elected MP Selim Bhuiyan pledged to focus on local development and meet public expectations. Jasim Uddin emphasized post-election peace, stating that no acts of violence or retaliation occurred against political opponents and urging continued restraint and respect for the law.

Observers in Comilla are now watching how these new lawmakers perform in parliament and whether their leadership influences regional development and political harmony.

Information and Broadcasting Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan stated that no journalist was imprisoned for expressing opinions during the interim government’s tenure. She made the remarks on Sunday, February 15, in Dhaka while speaking with reporters. Hasan clarified that journalists Anis Alamgir and Manjurul Alam Panna were also not jailed for their expressions, adding that the state machinery might have had different information.

Discussing her role in the interim government, Hasan said that evaluating its 18-month tenure in terms of success or failure was not appropriate. She emphasized that she had done her best and that the final judgment would come from the people.

Regarding the departure of Faiz Ahmad Tayyeb, who served as special assistant to the chief adviser, Hasan explained that he had already been living abroad and returned to his family in the Netherlands after completing his official duties. She dismissed any attempt to misinterpret his departure.

An 11-party alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami has announced plans to take legal action over alleged electoral fraud in 32 constituencies from Bangladesh’s 13th national parliamentary election. On Sunday morning, alliance representatives met with four Election Commissioners at the Election Commission building and submitted a list of disputed seats, claiming their candidates were narrowly defeated due to irregularities. The Election Commission stated that it could not intervene as the official gazette had already been published but noted that legal avenues remain open.

Jamaat assistant secretary general A.H.M. Hamidur Rahman Azad criticized the rapid publication of the gazette on February 13, a day after the February 12 election, alleging that this denied candidates the chance to file complaints. He cited instances of ballot manipulation, use of black money, intimidation, and violence, arguing these factors undermined the election’s credibility. The alliance demanded recounts in the identified constituencies and accused some polling officers of stamping ballots themselves.

Azad added that despite repeated complaints from chief agents and party representatives, the Election Commission and law enforcement took no effective action, leaving doubts about the fairness of the results.

Unidentified assailants set fire to the house of a Jamaat-e-Islami supporter in Khulna’s Moshiali village under Atra-Gilatala Union late Saturday night by pouring kerosene. The incident occurred in the Khulna-5 constituency (Dumuria-Phultala). Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar visited the site on Sunday morning, condemned the attack, and advised legal action.

According to local Jamaat leader Syed Hasan Mahamud Tito, the area’s balance-scale symbol received more votes than the sheaf of paddy symbol, but after the latter was declared victorious in Khulna-5, supporters of both BNP and Awami League allegedly threatened Jamaat supporters. The victim’s family members, including two sons active in Jamaat and Islami Chhatra Shibir, were reportedly terrified after the attack.

Police from Khanjahan Ali station visited the scene immediately and began an investigation. The officer-in-charge stated that a written complaint from the victims would facilitate further action. Jamaat leaders urged authorities to identify and prosecute those responsible.

Newly elected members of parliament and party activists gathered at the BNP chairperson’s office in Gulshan, Dhaka, on Sunday morning to greet party chairman Tarique Rahman following a sweeping electoral victory. From 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., the area in front of the office remained crowded with supporters carrying flowers. Security personnel restricted entry into the office premises, allowing only selected individuals inside.

Senior BNP leaders, including Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, arrived around 11:00 a.m., followed by several newly elected MPs such as A.B.M. Mosharraf Hossain from Patuakhali-4, Dewan Mohammad Salauddin from Dhaka-19, and A.K.M. Fazlul Haque Milon from Gazipur-5. Tarique Rahman’s motorcade reached the office at 12:20 p.m., where supporters greeted him with cheers and waves, to which he responded from inside his car.

Later, other leaders including Enamul Haque Enam from Chattogram-12, Wadud Bhuiyan from Khagrachhari, and Reza Kibria also visited the office to extend congratulations. The gathering reflected the party’s celebratory mood after its electoral success.

Commonwealth Secretary-General Sharlene Ayorkor Botchwey has congratulated BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman and his party for their victory in Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliamentary Election. She conveyed her message on Saturday through a Facebook post, praising the peaceful conduct of the election and the democratic environment maintained throughout the process.

In her post, the Secretary-General commended all citizens and institutions that contributed to ensuring a fair and peaceful electoral process. She reaffirmed the Commonwealth’s continued support for Bangladesh’s democratic progress. According to the election results, the BNP won 209 of the 297 declared seats, with its candidates leading in two more constituencies where results were pending. BNP’s allied parties secured three additional seats.

Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami won 68 seats, and other partners in the Jamaat-led 11-party alliance obtained nine seats in total.

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Asif Nazrul has stated that there is no question of his inclusion in the upcoming BNP cabinet. He made the comment on Sunday afternoon while speaking to reporters at the Secretariat. Nazrul confirmed that the oath-taking ceremony for newly elected members of parliament and the new cabinet will be held on Tuesday, February 17, at the South Plaza of the National Parliament. The MPs will take their oaths at 10 a.m., followed by the cabinet’s oath ceremony at 4 p.m.

He added that the Chief Election Commissioner is expected to administer the oath to the MPs, while the President will administer the oath to the cabinet members. The event is being arranged at the South Plaza in line with the BNP’s preference. Nazrul’s remarks came amid recent political discussions suggesting that he might join the BNP government’s cabinet.

The clarification effectively ends speculation about his possible role in the new BNP-led administration, as preparations continue for the formal swearing-in ceremonies.

Nahid Islam, convener of the National Citizens Party (NCP), alleged that despite attempts at vote rigging and fraud, his opponents were defeated and are now resorting to conspiracies. He made the statement on Sunday afternoon through a Facebook post. Islam referred to an incident at the Badda Adarshanagar Vidya Niketan center, where the entry of the BNP’s Ward 38 president, Barkat, raised questions. He also claimed that live media coverage on election day showed individuals in polling agent seats mentioning BNP candidate M A Kaiyum’s name.

According to Islam, he had been leading by a significant margin from the beginning, but the gap suddenly narrowed in the final results, prompting public suspicion. He further alleged that attempts to alter results continued until 5 a.m., and that Kaiyum’s supporters tried to create fear and chaos at several centers, including during the final result announcement at Banasree Ideal School and College.

Islam stated that such manipulation and intimidation do not align with the spirit of a “new Bangladesh” and asserted that the people would respond to those who question their verdict.

The interim government has formed an investigation committee to probe an incident in Noakhali’s Hatiya, where a woman was allegedly assaulted and her husband beaten after they voted for the National Citizen Party (NCP) symbol ‘Shapla Koli’. The matter was disclosed on Sunday afternoon during a briefing at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka, following a meeting of the Advisory Council chaired by Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus. Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam stated that the Home Affairs Adviser confirmed the formation of the committee, which will thoroughly investigate the case.

During the same meeting, the council expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Home Affairs and related agencies for successfully completing the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The Chief Adviser described the election as unprecedented, noting the absence of post-election violence against religious minorities and highlighting strong police performance and high female voter turnout.

The meeting also discussed preparations for the oath-taking ceremony of newly elected members of parliament and the new government, scheduled for February 17 at the South Plaza of the National Parliament, with the government coordinating security arrangements with the BNP.

After voting, many people notice a purple mark on their finger from indelible ink, which is used to ensure transparency in the election process. Some feel discomfort when the mark remains visible for days after the polls. Dermatologists explain that there is no instant way to remove the ink, but proper care can help fade it gradually without damaging the skin.

The ink is typically silver nitrate-based and reacts chemically with the outer layer of the skin, making it resistant to simple washing. The stain usually fades naturally within five to ten days as the skin renews. Experts warn against using bleach, acetone, or sharp objects, as these can cause irritation, burns, or infection. Instead, they recommend gentle home remedies such as washing with mild soap and warm water, applying lemon juice, regular toothpaste, baby oil, or coconut oil, and using light scrubs once daily.

Following these safe methods can help reduce the stain more comfortably while avoiding skin damage or allergic reactions.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh may receive the official letter authorizing the swearing-in of newly elected members of parliament today, Sunday, February 15, 2026. Election Commissioner Anwarul Islam Sarkar confirmed to reporters that all preparations for the oath ceremony have been completed. According to the Parliament Secretariat, the oath-taking ceremony will be held on Tuesday morning at the South Plaza of the National Parliament Building, where Chief Election Commissioner A.M.M. Nasir Uddin will administer the oath.

The Cabinet Division has also announced that the new cabinet will take its oath on the same day at 4 p.m., with President Md. Shahabuddin administering the ceremony. The developments follow the 13th National Parliamentary Election, in which the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secured an absolute majority.

Under the leadership of Tarique Rahman, the BNP is set to form a government after two decades, marking a significant political transition in the country.

Dhaka University teacher and assistant proctor Sheherin Amin Bhuiya Monami has alleged that she received death threats through phone calls from multiple unknown numbers. She made the claim in a Facebook post on Sunday, where she also shared several screenshots showing calls from unidentified sources. Monami stated that she has been facing numerous death threats since February 13, describing the latest incident as one among many.

In her verified Facebook post, Monami mentioned BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman, questioning whether the current situation reflects a 'women-friendly and safe' Bangladesh. She further wrote that all Muslims should be prepared for death and that she has been ready since July 31, 2024. The post has drawn attention online, though no official response or investigation details were mentioned in the source.

The report did not specify whether any formal complaint has been filed or if authorities have taken action regarding the threats.

A Dhaka court has again postponed the submission of the further investigation report in the murder case of Inqilab Moncho’s Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi. The Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court had set Sunday for the report’s submission, but as the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) failed to file it, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Jashita Islam fixed February 19 as the new date. This marks the seventh delay in submitting the report.

The case stems from the December 12 shooting of Osman Hadi on Box Culvert Road under Paltan Police Station, after which he was taken to Singapore for treatment but died on December 18. A case was filed on December 14 by Inqilab Moncho’s member secretary Abdullah Al Jaber, initially under several penal code sections, later amended to include murder charges. On January 6, a charge sheet against 17 accused was submitted by the Detective Branch, but the plaintiff expressed dissatisfaction and requested further investigation, which the court granted to the CID.

Among the accused, 11 are in custody and six remain absconding, including the alleged main shooter Faisal Karim Masud and several associates.