Law enforcement agencies have identified more than 40 percent of the 42,000 polling centers across Bangladesh as risky ahead of the 13th national parliamentary election and referendum scheduled for February 12, 2026. According to police data submitted to the Election Commission, Dhaka’s two city corporation areas have the highest concentration of such centers, with 1,614 of 2,131 polling stations marked as risky. The assessment was based on past incidents of violence and the geographic positioning of centers.

The Dhaka divisional commissioner’s office confirmed that additional forces and CCTV cameras will be deployed at risky centers. Nationwide, over 100,000 armed forces members will assist police in maintaining election security. A total of 157,000 police officers, supported by 30,000 additional personnel, will be on duty, with 25,000 body-worn cameras in use. Outside metropolitan areas, three to four armed police officers will guard each risky center, while inside cities, four armed officers will be assigned per center.

Security preparations mark the first time armed forces are formally integrated with law enforcement for election duties, reflecting heightened caution over potential unrest.

Popular Islamic scholar Maulana Mizanur Rahman Azhari has called on citizens to vote 'Yes' in the upcoming national referendum aimed at implementing the 'July Charter' for a balanced and accountable state. He made the appeal on Tuesday, February 10, through a post on his verified Facebook page, encouraging people to support the initiative under the slogan 'Say YES for Future Bangladesh.'

The referendum will be held nationwide on Thursday, February 12, alongside the national parliamentary elections. Under the supervision of the Election Commission, voters will cast their ballots on two separate papers—one for the parliamentary election and another for the state reform referendum. The 'July Charter' was drafted in response to demands for state reform following the July uprising.

Analysts cited in the report suggest that public endorsements from influential figures like Azhari could positively influence voter participation in the referendum, which has become a major focus of political activity across the country.

A massive traffic jam stretching about 32 kilometers has paralyzed the Dhaka–Tangail highway from Gazipur’s Chowrasta through Chandra to Hatuvanga in Tangail. The congestion was observed around 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday at Chandra Trimor area, where long lines of buses, trucks, private cars, autorickshaws, and motorcycles were seen. Passengers faced severe delays, with some reporting hours-long standstills and overcrowding similar to holiday periods.

Local sources said the gridlock resulted from a surge of travelers heading home after many factories declared a three-day holiday ahead of the upcoming national election. Many workers were traveling to their hometowns to cast votes and visit families. Reports also emerged of some transport operators charging extra fares due to the increased demand and shortage of vehicles.

Highway police officer-in-charge Saugat Hossain stated that the traffic buildup was caused by simultaneous travel pressure linked to the election and factory holidays. He said highway and traffic police were working jointly to ease congestion, had warned transport operators against overcharging, and deployed additional forces to maintain order and prevent passenger harassment.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam has said that approximately 24,000 polling centers across Bangladesh have been identified as risky ahead of the upcoming election. Speaking at a press conference at the Police Headquarters Media Center on Tuesday, he stated that 8,770 centers are considered highly risky and 16,000 moderately risky. He noted that these classifications are preliminary and somewhat arbitrary, but the police plan to cover these centers with body cameras.

The IGP emphasized that this election will be the most secure in the country’s history. He detailed that security measures have been arranged at three levels—center-based, mobile, and striking forces—to ensure order during the polls. According to him, the scale of security deployment means no one will be able to disrupt the election process, though isolated crimes could still occur.

The announcement comes as election preparations near completion, with ballot papers already distributed to all 299 constituencies, according to the Election Commission secretary.

Thousands of people heading home from Dhaka to vote in Bangladesh’s 13th national election are facing severe transport shortages and soaring fares. At major bus terminals, passengers have waited for hours without finding available buses, while fares on routes such as Dhaka–Mymensingh have jumped from the usual 200–250 taka to as high as 600 taka. Many travelers, including families with children and elderly members, have been forced to ride in trucks at inflated rates of 300–400 taka per person. Long traffic jams have worsened the situation, leaving voters frustrated and exhausted.

Passengers accuse certain transport syndicates of exploiting the crisis by charging multiple times the normal fare. Some report mistreatment by bus staff who refuse to carry passengers unwilling to pay extra. The rush intensified as industrial areas began their election holidays, prompting a mass exodus from the capital. The government has declared February 10–12 as special and general holidays to facilitate voting.

The combination of vehicle shortages, traffic congestion, and fare manipulation has turned the journey to polling centers into a major ordeal for ordinary citizens.

Khulna Range Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Md. Rezaul Haque stated that any police member who supports or opposes a candidate during the election will bear personal responsibility for their actions, not the department. He made the remarks in Narail while briefing journalists about police measures to maintain law and order and overall security during the election period. The briefing was held on Tuesday morning at the conference room of the Superintendent of Police in Narail.

Rezaul Haque emphasized that the government’s role in the February 12 election would remain completely neutral. He said the police have no envy, support, or opposition toward any contesting side and are committed to ensuring peace and security. The DIG reiterated that the police’s only goal is to conduct a fair and peaceful election, remaining above all forms of bias.

He urged that if any police member takes a partisan stance, it should be treated as an individual act and not attributed to the department. He also called on the media to cooperate by providing information on any partisan behavior to help ensure a fair election.

Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Niaz Ahmed Khan has offered to step down from his position. He made the announcement at an emergency press conference held on Tuesday at 3 p.m. in the Abdul Matin Chowdhury Virtual Classroom near the Vice-Chancellor’s office. Khan stated that he had taken charge during a critical period and had tried his best to fulfill his responsibilities. He expressed his wish to resign so that the newly elected political government could form its administration freely. However, he said he was willing to continue temporarily if stakeholders and the elected government deemed it necessary to maintain administrative continuity.

Khan clarified that he has not yet submitted a formal resignation letter and will remain in office until the elected government assumes power, pledging full cooperation with the incoming administration. He was appointed as acting Vice-Chancellor on August 27, 2024, following the resignation of former Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Maksud Kamal after the fall of the Awami League government earlier that month. His appointment was made under Article 11(2) of the Dhaka University Order, 1973, with approval from the President and University Chancellor.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh announced that more than 730,000 postal ballots from both domestic and overseas voters have reached returning officers ahead of the 13th parliamentary election. The information was released in an EC statement on Tuesday, February 10, 2026. According to the notice, a total of 766,862 ballot papers were sent abroad to enable expatriates to vote, of which 471,957 were returned after being cast. So far, 419,918 of these have reached the returning officers, while the rest are still being processed.

Within the country, 760,898 postal ballots were distributed among government employees, prisoners, and voters unable to attend polling centers. Of these, 310,154 completed ballots have been returned to the respective returning officers. The EC stated that the collection process for postal ballots remains ongoing.

Only ballots received by 4:30 p.m. on February 12 will be included in the final count, after which the official vote tallying process will begin, according to the EC announcement.

Interim government Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus will deliver a televised address to the nation on Tuesday, February 10, at 7 p.m. The announcement was made in a press release issued by the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing on Tuesday afternoon. The speech will be broadcast live on Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar.

According to the press release, the address comes ahead of the 13th general election scheduled for February 12 and the national referendum on the July National Charter. The statement emphasized that the Chief Adviser’s remarks will focus on these upcoming national events.

The broadcast aims to inform citizens about the government’s preparations and priorities before the election and referendum, both of which are considered significant for the country’s political transition.

The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) has deployed 90 short-term observers across all 64 districts of Bangladesh to monitor activities on election day. The announcement was made by EU EOM Chief Evers Ijabs at a press conference held on Tuesday morning at Hotel Continental in Dhaka. The observers will oversee key stages of the electoral process, including the opening of polling stations, voting, closing, ballot counting, and result tabulation.

According to Ijabs, the deployment of these short-term observers continues the work of 56 long-term observers who were previously assigned throughout the country. The mission aims to ensure comprehensive coverage and assessment of the electoral process.

The EU EOM also announced that it will release a preliminary assessment report on the election at a press conference scheduled for February 14 in Dhaka.

At least 11 workers were injured in a cylinder explosion at Abul Khair Group’s Starship milk product factory in the Oxygen area of Bayezid, Chattogram, on Tuesday around 11 a.m. The injured were rescued and taken to a private hospital, while three fire service units brought the blaze under control after about half an hour of effort.

According to initial reports, the explosion occurred when a machine cylinder burst during milk processing, igniting part of the factory. Workers alleged that the factory lacked adequate safety measures and that management forced them to work despite objections. They also claimed that security guards locked all gates after the explosion, preventing others from reaching the affected area to help. Fire Service Deputy Director Md. Jasim Uddin said the blast likely originated from bottling equipment.

However, the factory’s HR and Admin in-charge, Md. Imrul Kader Bhuiyan, stated that the fire was caused by a short circuit, not a cylinder explosion, and claimed only three workers were injured. He also denied any safety lapses at the facility.

Major General Mohammad Ashrafulzaman Siddiqui, Director General of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), visited the election base camps in Shyamnagar of Satkhira and Damurhuda of Chuadanga on February 10, 2026. The visits were part of efforts to ensure a free, fair, neutral, and peaceful 13th National Parliamentary Election. He held coordination meetings with local civil administration, law enforcement agencies, and election officials to review overall law and order and security arrangements.

The BGB chief stated that the force is fully prepared to perform its assigned duties with professionalism and neutrality. Over 37,000 BGB members have been deployed across 489 upazilas, with special responsibility in 61 border upazilas. The force will also operate as mobile and static units in 300 constituencies based on risk assessment. Helicopters, quick response teams, K-9 units, drones, and body cameras have been arranged to handle emergencies.

He instructed BGB personnel to intensify patrols and act decisively against any attempts to disrupt the election, emphasizing the goal of ensuring a safe and fear-free environment for voters.

A recent report indicates that China has moved ahead in becoming Bangladesh’s key economic and strategic partner amid a cooling of India-Bangladesh relations in recent months. As India’s influence in Dhaka declines, Beijing has intensified its engagement, pledging increased investment in major Bangladeshi projects and accelerating high-level visits and trade discussions.

Experts cited in the report suggest that Bangladesh’s economic challenges and infrastructure needs are driving it closer to Chinese investment. Meanwhile, unresolved connectivity and border issues with India have created discomfort among Bangladeshi policymakers, prompting them to give serious consideration to Beijing’s proposals.

This shift is seen as a major geopolitical challenge for India, whose “Neighborhood First” policy has long centered on Bangladesh. China’s growing involvement under its Belt and Road Initiative is now raising questions about India’s strategic dominance in the region, with analysts suggesting that Dhaka’s evolving foreign policy could alter South Asia’s power balance in the coming days.

Barrister Asaduzzaman Fuad, the AB Party’s general secretary and candidate of the 11-party alliance including Jamaat for the Barishal-3 (Babuganj-Muladi) constituency, said voters across the country are living in fear and uncertainty ahead of the election. Speaking at a press conference at Ashwini Kumar Hall in Barishal city on Tuesday morning, he alleged that a certain group is intimidating voters to keep them away from polling stations. Fuad stated that if law enforcement agencies act decisively, the situation could still be changed.

He criticized the Election Commission and local administration, saying they have failed to take control of the field situation. According to him, both election officials and administrative officers lack experience in conducting fair elections and are worried about their careers. Fuad claimed that fear has spread even to daily life, with voters anxious about simple activities like where to have tea. He added that if law enforcement became serious, the tense environment could be reversed within 24 hours.

The press conference was attended by Barishal city Jamaat Ameer Zahir Uddin Babar, chief election agent Abdur Rahman Oli, and other alliance leaders.

The government of Bangladesh has ordered the closure of all immigration checkpoints at land ports to ensure overall national security during the 13th National Parliamentary Election and the accompanying referendum. The decision aims to prevent any high-risk individuals from entering the country and to stop those under travel restrictions from leaving during the election period. The Ministry of Home Affairs confirmed the directive.

Authorities including the Director General of the Department of Immigration and Passports, the Additional Inspector General of Police (Special Branch), the Secretaries of Shipping and Foreign Affairs, and the Director General of Border Guard Bangladesh have been instructed to take urgent measures to maintain peace and prevent any acts of sabotage during the election.

The directive underscores the government’s focus on maintaining stability and security throughout the electoral process, ensuring that the election and referendum proceed without disruption.